Labour councillor suspended ‘for getting private COVID jab’

The Labour party has suspended one of its councillors after she claimed to have received a coronavirus vaccination from a “private care doctor”.

Jamila Azad's Facebook status update said she got a jab from a private medic – amid ''a long wait for NHS waiting list''.

But the vaccine is currently only available on the NHS, and it is illegal for it to be administered outside of the service.

Azad's post from last week said: “My darling daughter took me to a Private Care Doctor for Covid 19 vaccine.

''A long wait for NHS waiting list. We had take away from Akber take away.”

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The status, which has since been removed, included photos of the councillor and another woman.

They appear to be receiving jabs from a medic in scrubs and PPE.

Azad, represents St Clements and Cowley Marsh on Oxfordshire County Council, and St Clements on Oxford City Council.

Susan Brown, the leader of the Labour group at Oxford City Council and Liz Brighouse, leader of the Labour group at Oxfordshire County Council, issued a joint statement in relation to the post.

It said: “Following a recent post on her Facebook account about her Covid 19 vaccination, Cllr Jamila Azad has been suspended by the whips of both the Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council Labour Groups, pending further investigation.

"Cllr Azad has now removed the post in question.

“We will be making no further comment on this matter until formal investigations into it have been completed.”

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A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency had only authorised COVID-19 vaccinations for use through the NHS.

A government spokesman added: “It would be illegal to administer vaccines outside of the NHS and, if this happened, the MHRA would take enforcement action.”

It is unclear where Azad may have received the vaccine apparently administered by a private doctor.

Yahoo UK has approached Azad for comment.

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