Pupil jag take up 3rd highest in the country

More than two thirds of Perth and Kinross 12 to 15-year-olds have now been vaccinated against COVID.

The vaccination rate for this age group is well above the Scottish average of 53.1 per cent and currently the third highest of all Scotland’s local authorities.

The latest figures as of October 27 show 65.1 per cent of Perth and Kinross 12-15s have now been vaccinated.

That figure is the highest in Tayside with Dundee having vaccinated 49.6 per cent of its 12-15s and Angus 60.7 per cent.

And it is only just behind Aberdeenshire with 68.5 per cent and East Lothian at 65.7 per cent and well above the likes of Argyll and Bute (18.7 per cent) and Highland (22.3 per cent).

SNP councillor Eric Drysdale chairs the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board and represents Perth and Kinross Council as a member of the NHS Tayside board.

The Perth City Centre councillor said: “It’s a really positive picture when we look at the progress already made in vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds in Perth and Kinross with 65 per cent of young people in this group already having received their jab against the Scottish average of 53 per cent which in turn is higher than in the rest of the UK. I’m pleased to say that the feedback I am hearing is that families really appreciate the flexibility of the arrangements for vaccinations.”

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “We have been encouraging all 12-15 year olds to get vaccinated in Tayside and we’re grateful to everyone who has come along so far.

“We would encourage anyone aged 12-15 who is still awaiting their first dose to attend one of our drop- in clinics.”

Cllr Eric Drysdale believes the vaccine passport scheme is also having an impact on the number of young adults coming forward.

He said: “We are also seeing strong uptake among young adults which we believe in large part is due to the socalled vaccine passport regulations in Scotland.”

To date in Perth and Kinross 78.4 per cent of 16-17s have been vaccinated, 83.2 per cent of 18-29s and 84.8 per cent of 30-39s. These figures are above the Scottish average.

The COVID booster and flu immunisation programme is also well under way.

Cllr Drysdale said: “Here in Perth and Kinross the first phase of COVID boosters and the flu immunisation programme is virtually complete with all over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable having been offered this vital protection.

“The next phase - covering all 50 to 69-year-olds plus those with existing medical conditions which make them more vulnerable - will start next week at the vaccination centres and will proceed at record pace through November and into early December so that, by the time we reach the festive period, the aim is for everyone in the more at risk categories to have been offered these vaccinations.

“I cannot stress too strongly that everyone eligible should accept their appointment or promptly reschedule if they simply can’t attend. This is still a deadly virus and we know that the effects of previous jabs do begin to wane slowly after five to six months.”

NHS Tayside has said it is delivering around 40,000 vaccinations per week.

Fo l l owing a glitch where housebound patients were sent blue appointment letters an NHS Tayside spokesperson said: “Housebound patients will be telephoned to arrange a suitable appointment at home for them to receive their COVID booster and flu jab. Our vaccination team will be in touch with them over the coming weeks.”