‘Dangerous’ anti-vax threats to NHS staff

ANTI-VAXXERS have threatened Scottish NHS staff with fake ‘legal’ letters, health chiefs have revealed.

NHS Grampian said there had been several incidents involving an individual handing over documents to vaccination teams.

The revelations reveal a stepping up of anti-vax operations north of the Border – with ministers warning that those spreading misinformation were ‘dangerous’.

Officials have warned NHS bosses to contact police if staff feel threatened by anyone distributing anti-vax literature.

NHS Grampian refused to provide additional information about the incidents and said they had not been reported to police.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘This is a deeply troubling incident. Hard-working NHS staff should not be being threatened by conspiracy theorists and cranks. I hope the SNP and the police are prepared to act to keep staff safe.’

Last month, videos emerged online showing anti-vax activists storming an NHS ward in England to hand over fake legal notices to staff. During the incident at NHS Colchester Hospital, a group of men were seen carrying a stack of brown envelopes – which a female worker initially refused to take. During a bizarre rant, one of the men accused staff of being personally liable for Covid and warned they ‘can’t hide behind the NHS’.

Scottish Conservative public health spokesman Sue Webber said the Government must ‘ensure support and guidance is provided to all NHS workers, adding: ‘More must also be done to tackle misinformation and reach out to vaccine-hesitant groups.’

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘This is outrageous behaviour. NHS staff are working hard to keep us all safe, they don’t deserve hassle or abuse at work.

The Scottish Government needs to ensure that security is beefed up to deal with incidents like these.’

Earlier this year it emerged headteachers had been threatened with legal action over their ‘perceived involvement’ in the vaccination programme. It came after guidance saw jabs offered to children over 12 in Scotland.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Spreading misinformation about the vaccine is not only reprehensible but dangerous and we are grateful that most people recognise there is no foundation to wholly baseless claims and are taking up their appointments when offered.’