BMA data has revealed that GP locums are almost half as likely to have received their second Covid dose as GP partners.
A bi-weekly BMA survey monitoring the vaccine rollout to UK doctors found that the ‘vast majority’ of frontline doctors have had their first jab, with around a third of respondents (35%) reporting receiving their second.
However, the latest BMA data, updated on Friday, found that GP locums are the least likely to have had their second dose so far.
Around a quarter (26%) of locums said they had their second shot, compared with 36% of salaried GPs and 49% of GP contractors or principals.
The BMA said this is ‘mirroring the roll-out of first doses’.
However, it added that there are ‘no meaningful differences by ethnicity’, with 35% of both white respondents and those from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background reporting receiving a second jab.
And those identified by their workplace as being at a higher clinical risk from Covid were ‘slightly more likely’ (39%) than their colleagues (34%) to have had their second dose, it said.
Overall, the proportion of respondents who have received a second vaccine dose is increasing ‘more swiftly’ – almost doubling from 19% on 13 February to 35% two weeks later – the BMA said.
But it added that second dose rollout ‘must ramp up extensively in the coming weeks to ensure the medical workforce has full vaccine protection’.
The BMA has campaigned for healthcare staff to be prioritised throughout the vaccination programme, saying it was ‘essential’ that all GPs and practice staff be vaccinated by the end of January.
In December, it called for more equal access to vaccination for doctors working on the frontline amid reports hospital admin staff is being prioritised ahead of patient-facing GPs.
It comes as GPs are gearing up to deliver second doses of the vaccine to patients alongside a doubling of first dose supply.
This story first appeared on our sister title, Pulse.
