A THIRD coronavirus wave “washing up on our shores” is a “real risk”, the Royal Borough’s health lead said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently warned the public a fresh wave of infections will “wash up on our shores” from Europe, saying “we will feel the effects in due course”.

Councillor Stuart Carroll (Con: Boyn Hill), lead member for adult social care, children’s services, health, and mental health, said the Prime Minister was “correct” to warn another wave could “import itself” to the UK as essential trade of goods and services continue with the EU.

Cllr Carroll, who is an epidemiologist and on the UK vaccine task force, said: “There is no doubt, in the spirit of due diligence and due planning, we have to look ahead of potential risks, and we have to plan and prepare for those risks.

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“There is a live risk of a third wave because of what we’re seeing in Europe and that’s despite travel bans and restrictive measures in place – but moreover because we know this virus is very capable of mutating.

“In some ways, I would say that’s a bigger risk, the emergence of new variants of the infectious disease itself, and new variants which may be more potent and transmissible, and we may need to keep tweaking the vaccines and keep tweaking the technologies to be able to keep pace.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning of a potential third wave

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning of a potential third wave

The Prime Minister’s comments come amid a row over Covid-19 vaccine supplies in the EU – which Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, warned the EU could “forbid” doses in the bloc from being exported to the UK.

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When asked if Cllr Carroll was concerned this would impact the vaccine effort in the UK, Cllr Carroll said the government is “still on target” to reach their milestones as outlined in their roadmap.

Cllr Carroll said: “I find it deeply disturbing that the European Union, or in fact any country in the world, would wish to try to engage in blockading vaccine supply and the supply of certain materials needed to manufacture vaccines.

“I do think the EU needs to take a long, hard look at itself and it’s not coming out of this pandemic looking at all favourable or good.”

He urged the EU, the British government, and other governments to work together to ensure everyone gets the jab, as “vaccination is the only way out of this pandemic”.