A DOCTOR has urged people eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine to get one as soon as possible after it emerged some patients have rejected the Pfizer jag.
Dr Simon Stockley, based at Eaglescliffe Medical Practice in Stockton in the north of England, stressed he feels there is no difference between Pfizer’s jag and the Oxford/AstraZeneca one.
This afternoon the Moderna vaccine was also approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and will be rolled out in the spring.
READ MORE: Covid in Scotland: Regulator approves Moderna vaccine for use in UK
Stockley responded to a tweet from Dr Paul Williams, the former Labour MP for Stockton South. The former GP, who now works at North Tees Hospital, wrote: "Some local patients have turned down an offer this weekend of getting a Covid vaccine when they found out it was the Pfizer one. 'I'll wait for the English one'."
Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Stockley said: "The best vaccine as far as I can work out is the one that can be put into your arm soonest.
"I can well understand that people are trying to make a decision as to whether one is better than another and I don't think there's any evidence that allows you to make that distinction.
"If you are being offered the Pfizer vaccine now, waiting for something else to come along that is describably better seems perverse."
In Scotland more than 113,000 people have now received their first dose of coronavirus vaccination.
Up to the end of January 3, 113,459 people had been vaccinated and the programme for vaccinating care home residents is now more than half way to completion.
Deliveries of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jag began this week and some GPs have started administering it. The full roll out is due to start on Monday, with those in priority lists one and two set to receive their first jags by the end of the month.
Those lists include older residents in care homes, their carers, frontline health and care workers and people aged over 80.
By the end of May it is hoped everyone aged over 50, and with underlying health conditions, will receive their first dose.
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