Duffy calls for any COVID-19 vaccine to be available on free and universal basis

Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy has said any potential treatment for COVID-19 must be made available on a free and universal basis.

The local health spokesperson said: “I welcome the reports that progress is being made on the development of a vaccine.

“We have seen the devastation COVID -19 has caused across our society.

“In particular, we have evidence that the virus has affected more deprived communities causing considerable additional hardship to those who already endure significant inequalities.

“If there is hope on the horizon, it must be hope for all.

“In the meantime however, we must concentrate our efforts on fighting the pandemic with proactive public health measures and investment in finding the virus, testing, tracing, isolating and supporting our entire community.”

The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine is one of a number of Covid vaccines under development and undergoing testing.

The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent expert advisory group, will advise Government on which Covid-19 vaccine(s) should be used, and on the priority groups to receive the vaccine based on the best available clinical, modelling and epidemiological data.