FEARS OVER 500K MISSING JABS

Delay in deliveries from India means under-50s may face much longer wait

SCOTLAND will have half a million fewer vaccine doses than expected next month due to a delay in securing crucial supplies from India.

It means some under-50s are likely to face a longer wait for their first jab.

The UK was expecting another five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, the world’s biggest vaccine manufacturer – completing its order for 10million jabs – but the ‘scheduled’ delivery has been pushed back.

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday confirmed that the delay will affect the rollout in Scotland.

But the First Minister stressed that two key targets – to get the first dose to all priority groups by mid-April and all adults by the end of July – will be met.

There will be some prioritisation of second doses next month as a result of the supply issues, Miss Sturgeon said.

It means that, once everyone over 50 gets a jab by the middle of next month, some of those in the 40-49 age category may need to wait until May.

It is not anticipated that the delays will affect the Government’s route map out of lockdown, unveiled on Tuesday.

More than two million Scots have now received a first dose.

At Holyrood yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We expect that, during the next month, we will have approximately 500,000 fewer doses than we had previously anticipated.

‘For that reason, there may be periods in April when we need to prioritise second doses.

‘We do still expect to offer a first dose of the vaccine to the remaining JCVI [Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation] priority groups by the middle of next month.

‘That is everyone aged over 50, unpaid carers and all adults with underlying health conditions.

‘We also expect to have delivered a first dose to all adults by the end of July.’

Miss Sturgeon said supplies are expected to ‘eventually come through’, adding: ‘Overall, the rollout of the vaccination programme continues to be very encouraging. It gives us genuine cause for optimism about the months ahead.’

Nearly all over-65s have now received a first dose of the jab, as have 74 per cent of those aged 60-64; 44 per cent of people 5559; and 35 per cent of the 50-54 age group.

Addressing Holyrood’s Covid19 committee, national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said: ‘It is a significant reduction across the whole of the UK and we’ll feel that proportionately.

‘We’re still seeking some clarity on the exact numbers and [Health Secretary Jeane Freeman] will update MSPs and parliament as soon as she can.

‘Our present understanding is we can still offer everybody in the top nine groups a first dose, and we can still meet our end of July target for the whole adult population. But it will inevitably mean that, after the top nine, we will have to think about who comes next and when. As of today we do not anticipate it affecting second doses at all.’

A spokesman for the First Minister insisted that it is not anticipated that the reduction in vaccine supply will affect the easing of lockdown and indicative dates for reopening.

On European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s threat to halt vaccine exports, Miss Sturgeon’s spokesman said: ‘I don’t think talk of blocking vaccine exports helps anyone. We are in a situation where we are all in this together, not as one country or not as one continent but globally.’

Vaccine supplies are purchased by the UK Government for the whole country, then distributed proportionately to each of the four nations.

The devolved administrations are responsible for organising the rollout.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘Health services across the UK are working tirelessly to vaccinate those most at risk and more than 25million people have already received their first jab.

‘Significant reduction’

We remain confident in our vaccine supplies and are in constant contact with manufacturers and supply chain partners to understand and address potential variations in supply.’

During a visit yesterday to a vaccination centre in Edinburgh, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘Today is about paying tribute to the NHS staff across Scotland who have been on the front line of this pandemic. They have battled Covid heroically, and now they are helping defeat it by rolling out the vaccine.

‘Once this virus is beaten, Scotland’s recovery must be the number one priority for its Government. That’s what Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour are offering in May’s election.

‘Scottish Labour is the only party serious about tackling the injustices which have been brutally exposed by Covid.’