‘SNP NEEDS TO RAMP UP BOOSTERS’

Warning after rollout of jabs delayed

THE SNP was warned to stop being ‘complacent’ and ramp up the vaccine booster programme yesterday after it emerged the rollout has been delayed.

It comes as fears grow for vulnerable Scots as deaths from Covid-19 rise.

The number of weekly deaths from the virus has increased from 46 in July to 139 by the middle of October.

Meanwhile, there is still a high level of community transmission with a daily average of 2,206 cases recorded in the week ending October 17.

Some older people are also having to wait beyond the six-month interval for their booster, putting them at increased risk of contracting the virus as their level of protection wanes over time.

Concerns have also been raised about elderly and vulnerable people being asked to travel miles for vaccination after local centres closed.

The news comes after the Scottish Government was accused of ‘sneaking out’ a delay to the Covid-19 booster vaccine programme after over50s were told they will now have to wait until November instead of mid-October.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘It is clear now that case numbers remain at a worrying level across Scotland and that more lives are being lost.

‘Despite this, the SNP Government continues to keep its head in the sand and pretends everything is going to plan.

‘We know vaccination is key to tackling this pandemic. But in the face of rising cases, we are seeing a sluggish roll-out of the booster programme.

‘We need the SNP Government to end the complacency and take action now to ramp up the programme to keep people safe.’

The Scottish Government initially said over-50s, unpaid carers and those with underlying health conditions would be able to book their third dose online from October.

However, the NHS Inform website now says over-50s can book it from ‘mid November’.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘The Scottish Government are sneaking out changes to the vaccination programme under the radar.

‘We know that caseloads are still far too high so there can be no excuses for these delays.’

He said the delay to the portal being open for over-50s would ‘cause anxiety for people who have perhaps gone beyond the six months people have recommended to get the booster’.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane accused the government of ‘sneakily shifting the goalposts on their own vaccination timelines’.

But the Scottish Government has insisted the timetable remains on track to give all eligible groups a booster six months on from their second dose, in line with JCVI recommendations.

A Government spokesman said: ‘After a sustained reduction in cases, we have seen case numbers plateau.

‘Hospitalisations and intensive care admissions continue to fall slowly.

‘Our vaccination programme is leading the UK and we have made significant progress with our booster campaign.’

Meanwhile, Labour public health spokesman Paul O’Kane has written to health secretary Humza Yousaf to complain that some people have been asked to travel ‘tens of miles’ for jabs.

He said many of them are elderly or have health issues, and are worried about a lack of public transport.

Housebound Elizabeth Greig, who has multiple sclerosis, was offered her Covid booster at Montrose Town Hall in Angus – more than ten miles from her Edzell home.

A spokesman for NHS Tayside yesterday said a number of blue vaccination appointment letters have been sent in error to housebound patients.

‘No excuses for these delays’