By the end of Sunday 03 January, 113,459 people in Scotland had received their first dose of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.
The programme for vaccinating care home residents is now well over half way through.
Since deliveries of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine started this week, GP surgeries have begun receiving the vaccine. Full primary care roll-out is planned from Monday. Those in priority lists 1 and 2 – older residents in care homes, frontline health and care workers and those over the age of 80 – are expected to get their first dose by the end of January.
It is predicted that by early May everyone over 50 and those with underlying health conditions will have received their first dose. This is everyone on the Joint Committee on Vaccination (JCVI) and Immunisation priority list – more than 2.5 million people in Scotland. Once everyone on the JCVI list has been vaccinated, the rest of the population will start receiving their invitations.
Timetables are dependent on vaccine supply, although vaccination teams are exploring all possible options to speed up delivery and bring timescales forward where possible.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said:
“Today’s figures show good progress, but now that we have access to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine that will increase rapidly.
“If you are aged over 80 and have not yet been invited to your vaccine, please be reassured – you will be invited in due course.
“We are following the prioritisation list recommended by the experts at the JCVI. That means vaccinating the people at most risk from COVID-19 first. After updated guidance we are ensuring that as many people as possible in the priority groups get their first dose as soon as possible. However, it is really important to stress that everyone will get a second dose within 12 weeks.
“We have over 1,100 vaccination sites including over 750 GP practices involved in the delivery of this vaccine and a growing core of over 3000 trained vaccinators to deliver the vaccine, including dentists, GPs, pharmacists and optometrists.
“This is the biggest logistical challenge in the history of Scotland’s NHS but there is a huge effort from our health and social care staff right across Scotland to make sure it is a success. I thank each and every one of them. Everyone can play their part in delaying the spread of the virus further by staying at home and staying safe.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“I am grateful to health and social care staff and volunteers working as hard as they can to vaccinate people across North Ayrshire and Scotland against coronavirus.
“In particular the progress made for the most vulnerable, those in care homes, has been heartening.
“To play our part, we must stick with the restrictions to protect ourselves, each other, and the NHS here in Ayrshire.”
ENDS
