Aylesbury MP Rob Butler writes to Bucks Free Press readers:
Once again my letter from Westminster is dominated by the fight against coronavirus, in the midst of another national lockdown.
The good news is that, after a slow start, more vaccination centres have opened in our area, and thousands of local people are now receiving their jabs.
I share residents’ frustration at the delay to the rollout of vaccinations locally, and raised this repeatedly with the Health Secretary and vaccinations minister before asking Boris Johnson about it at Prime Minister’s questions.
I was very pleased that the Prime Minister confirmed that we are on track to vaccinate those most at risk by the middle of this month.
I must stress though, that all decisions on the rollout are being taken by the NHS.
The pace of supply varies week by week, and local GP surgeries do not have detailed knowledge far in advance of when they will be allocated vaccines – so please do not call them as you will be contacted directly about the options for getting your jab.
I would like to thank all the local healthcare staff who are working so hard to deliver the inoculation programme.
They are being supported by many local volunteers, once more showing how strong our community spirit is here in Buckinghamshire, and I am grateful for their contribution.
I also have great admiration and appreciation for everyone involved in educating children at this difficult time: teachers and staff in schools providing lessons for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, as well as parents at home who are juggling teaching with their own jobs.
Having spoken to local headteachers in recent weeks, I know that this is truly a team effort at school and at home.
I hope and believe that children will be able to return to class in the very near future.
Buckinghamshire’s businesses are also still being hit hard by coronavirus and I continue to emphasise the challenges faced by local firms to ministers.
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Bucks Council has put together excellent packages of support to complement those from the government, and I urge local companies to apply for them.
There is light at the end of the tunnel; I take inspiration from the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, who said: “Let’s try not to get downhearted, we will get through this, whatever is thrown at us and together we can ensure that tomorrow will be a good day.”
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