Freeman must sort out vaccine delays

Another day, another report of problems in Scotland’s vaccination programme.

Dr Andrew Buist said yesterday that ‘supply of the vaccine so far has been quite patchy’. the chairman of the British Medical Association’s GP committee in Scotland told the BBC: ‘Some practices have a good supply, some have had none so far.’

Dr Buist’s concern is for when vaccinations move to the next stage, which will see GPs deliver the Covid-19 jab to over-80s.

the UK Government has already allocated 500,000 doses to Scotland.

If they are not getting to where they are supposed to be, the Scottish Government has questions to answer. health Secretary Jeane Freeman must get a handle on this before the next rollout.

It is intolerable that Scots should have to wait any longer than necessary to be vaccinated, especially when we have plentiful quantities of the drug.

Miss Freeman has not risen to the seriousness of this moment. ten months on, we are still in lockdown, in the middle of a deadly third wave and looking for leadership from those tasked with keeping us safe.

What we have seen instead from the health Secretary is blunder after blunder, whether having to remove her vaccination plan from the internet because it disclosed sensitive information or having to apologise for revealing the location of a top secret vaccine storage facility in england.

the Mail appreciates that Miss Freeman is standing down ahead of May’s elections but for now she is still on the clock and her eye should be on the ball.

the one glimmer of light is the news that the British Army has been drafted in to assist in delivery of the jab. the royal Scots Dragoon Guards will be the first regiment to come to the aid of overwhelmed medics.

the Army’s efficiency, organisation and logistical nous will prove invaluable.

If only the same could be said of the health Secretary.