Wirral Councillor says behaviour of anti-vaxxers was 'absolutely horrendous'

Anti-vaccination groups have been abusing and intimidating staff administering vaccines.

Wirral Councillor Yvonne Nolan made a passionate speech during a town hall discussion of the vital work the borough's vaccination bus has done in getting the jab into the arms of more people.

At last night's meeting of Wirral Council's Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, Cllr Nolan said: "I am aware that the vaccination bus has been very successful in getting additional people, although I also know that the staff there and the community connectors there have been subject to some level of abuse whilst they've been out there.

"On one occasion having to call the police which I think is absolutely appalling, because people were being really seriously intimidated by an anti-vaxx group.

"[It's] absolutely horrendous. That our staff and staff who are out there simply administering vaccines should be subjected to that kind of abuse is absolutely appalling."

Fellow Labour councillor Clare O'Hagan said that despite this incident, residents had told her that they were really impressed with the way the vaccination programme has been handled in Wirral.

Members of the committee were responding to a presentation by Dr Elspeth Anwar, a public health consultant, which showed Wirral was moving in the right direction when it came to Covid-19.

Dr Anwar said: "As I am sure you're all aware we still have widespread community transmission of Covid-19 across the borough.

"When we look at the last seven days we've had 1,177 cases in that last seven day period, which is an average of 179 cases per day. The good news is this is a decrease from the week before.

"So if you looked at the seven days before that, that's 533 fewer cases than in the previous week."

The public health consultant also reported good news on vaccination numbers, with 83.1% of Wirral's population having had their first dose and 71.7% having had two doses.

She also reiterated that people should continue to follow public health guidance including getting the vaccine, wearing face coverings particularly in indoor settings and health and care settings, following social distancing where possible and getting tested regularly.