Ministers urged to intervene after ineligible people jump Covid vaccine queue due to IT loophole

Standard investigation: People have secured jabs through links meant for NHS staff and vulnerable
Lucy Young
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Ministers were today urged to intervene after a Standard investigation revealed how ineligible people were able to jump the queue for vaccines by exploiting an IT loophole.

Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth warned that the loophole meant many vulnerable and at risk people faced “waiting longer” for life saving covid jabs.

The Standard yesterday revealed people who are not yet eligible for the vaccine had managed to secure jabs by using links that are being shared on WhatsApp and social media.

The links are part of the online booking system by Swiftqueue which is being used by some NHS trusts to coordinate vaccine appointments for staff.

Labour’s Mr Ashworth said: “The vaccine programme is designed to save lives and reduce hospitalisations by prioritising those most in need.  

“This loophole leaves many vulnerable and at risk waiting longer for life saving jabs.  

“Ministers must intervene and stamp out this queue jumping.”

Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care called on ministers to intervene 
REUTERS

The Standard has seen evidence that people who are not staff or on the vaccine priority list have managed to use the portal to get vaccinated in east London and other parts of the country.

It comes after a link meant for staff at the East London NHS Foundation Trust [ELFT] was shared outside the mental health trust’s community.  

Our investigator was able to use the link to book an appointment for 9.50am yesterday with the follow up jab scheduled for the same time on April 5 at the Westfield vaccination centre in Stratford.

We cancelled the appointments after booking to ensure that no-one was being deprived of a jab and there were a number of free appointments still available throughout the day.

There has also been reports of people, who are not yet eligible, using similar portals to sign up for jabs elsewhere.

The MP for Chesterfield Toby Perkins said he had found out ineligible people were using a local Swiftqueue link to get the jab.

Mr Perkins said he knew of someone in their mid-50s who was not on any list but had used the portal to secure an appointment and was given a vaccine.

He added: “I’m gratified to hear action is being taken and I’ll watch it very carefully because people really shouldn’t be jumping the queue.”

Our investigator was able to use the link to book a next-day appointment and a follow up jab in April at the Westfield vaccination centre in Stratford
Lucy Young

ELFT said anyone attending vaccine appointments would be asked for proof they had been invited for a vaccine.  

Swiftqueue issued a strongly worded statement, warning that: “Anyone who books to get the vaccine fraudulently will be turned away – full stop.”

Their CEO Brendan Casey said: “Some people have used links shared with them to try and falsely get the Covid vaccine.  

“If they book and attend the clinic to try and jump the queue and they do not have proof of eligibility and they will be turned away.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "This is the biggest vaccination rollout in our history and it's right that we vaccinate the most vulnerable people first. People that try to bypass the rules will only be wasting the time of healthcare professionals on the frontline.

“People who attend a vaccination centre have to provide proof they have personally been invited, as well as identification, and anyone who has tried to circumnavigate the system will be turned away.”

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “It is of course our position that nobody should be seeking to queue jump. 

“We’ve set out why we are prioritising those we are – given the increased risk that those groups face.  

“It’s important that we provide protection to those who are most at clinical risk.”

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