Double dose jag uptake less than a third

LESS than a third of people in some areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh have been double jabbed, stats showed.

Data published by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) showed some regions of Glasgow where barely more than a quarter of people were fully vaccinated.

It was believed low uptake may be due in part to a transient student population with young people moving house more often.

Glasgow City Centre East had an uptake of 26%, while Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh was at 27%.

In Edinburgh the figure was 29% in Canongate, Southside and Dumbiedykes, and 30% in the Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street.

In both areas of Glasgow, it is estimated that around 14% of the population are students, while in the Edinburgh areas this is 9%.

The majority of the neighbourhoods where uptake was recorded as below 50% are in Edinburgh and Glasgow, alongside some in Fife, Dundee and Aberdeen.

More recently, the report shows as of October 25, Glasgow was the area with the lowest two dose uptake, at 79%.

This was 80% in Aberdeen and Dundee, and 81% in Edinburgh.

Uptake was highest in East Dunbartonshire, at 96%.

Lothian and Glasgow health boards both said they are working hard to get vaccine uptake as high as possible.

Pat Wynne, nurse director of primary and community care at NHS Lothian, said: “It is vital that those who are eligible receive both doses of the vaccine.

“Across Lothian we continue to hold a range of clinics where people can pop-in if they need either their first dose or are now due their second dose of the vaccine.

“While this data is helpful, it is worth remembering that it is unpublished, management information, which comes with significant caveats.

“For example, some people will have moved since they had their vaccination and not everyone in a local community will be registered with their local GP.”

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “As the largest health board in Scotland, we have the largest population to vaccinate.

“We have found in some areas of Glasgow uptake hasn’t been as high and we are working with community leaders and local groups to understand the barriers people face.”