Bearsden councillor wants to be vaccinator

Duncan Cumming (Independent Bearsden North), who is a qualified first aider, would like to help out 
himself as a Covid vaccinator.

But he told the Herald when he looked into the possibility of undertaking possible training, he came up against a brick wall.

He has now written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon appealing for help to allow him and others to play their part 
in the battle against the 
disease.

In his letter, he said: “It is vitally important as many people as possible are vaccinated at great pace and I would like to play my part in this important work.

“I am a qualified First Aider and have undertaken first-aid in a number of settings that include the workplace, at sea and in the mountains.

“I now want to use my skills and knowledge to assist the community as a volunteer vaccinator.”

Councillor Cumming initially contacted officials in both East Dunbartonshire Council and the local Health and Social Care Partnership, for information on training courses available for people like himself.

But he said: “It has now been confirmed that at present, there is no such course in which I would be qualified to enrol.”

Councillor Cumming said both his parents, now retired, are physicians by profession and told him the intramuscular vaccination was “a straightforward procedure.”

He told the First Minister: “I have been advised there is a possibility that the Scottish Government is undertaking the development of a new 
national protocol, which could enable a wider range of people to undertake the vaccination role than is currently allowed.

“If indeed this is the case, I would very much welcome this.

“I passionately believe there is a great need for a volunteer vaccination scheme to be developed at pace, so that people like myself and many others would have the opportunity of enrolling in an appropriate course.

“On completion, we would be allowed to join the national 
effort in fighting Covid 19.

“I have no doubt this would build significant resilience and capacity into the system.

“At the same time, it would reduce some of the pressure on our fantastic NHS health professionals.

“It is also highly possible we may require further boosters for Covid 19 or indeed 
an entirely new type of vaccine 
as the coronavirus mutates 
further.

“Heaven forbid that this happens, but if it does, it would be vitally important we have an army of volunteer 
vaccinators ready to step up to the plate as and when required.

“To date, we still do not know whether the available vaccines will prevent people from transmitting the disease.”

Councillor Cumming has also called for vaccination 
centres to operate on a 
12-hour basis, seven days a week.

He added: “My grandfather tragically died of influenza-induced pneumonia whilst attending to his patients during the influenza outbreak that hit our country in 1957.

“As a result, my family has a very real understanding of what it is to lose a loved one to a terrible disease.”