Booster delays
Stark jab warning by top expert after SNP accused of ‘sneaking in’ changes
THE delay in giving booster jabs to vulnerable Scots will lead to ‘preventable Covid deaths’, a top epidemiologist has warned.
Professor Hugh Pennington said the lag could also place greater strain on the NHS.
His comments come after the Scottish Government was accused of ‘sneaking’ in changes to jab schedules for the over-50s and other groups, which mean they will not receive boosters until the middle of next month.
It had previously said over-50s, unpaid carers and those with underlying health conditions would be able to have them from this month. Professor Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, said: ‘Any booster jab delay will lead to some preventable deaths from Covid.
‘Mortality from the virus increases steadily with age, as does the likelihood of a more rapid decline in protective immunity, which in the very old is not brilliant to start with.
‘The level of the virus in the population is high. Those needing a booster need it as soon as possible.’
He added that the delay could cause a ‘pinch point’ within the health service.
Professor Pennington said: ‘It will have a bad effect on the NHS as when the unboostered fall ill, they are more likely to have a severe infection and more likely to need ICU treatment.’
The warnings come as figures reveal that more than 200,000 Scots could be overdue for their booster jabs by the time they are allowed to book appointments.
As of yesterday, 429,801 people had received their third vaccination.
But data from Public Health Scotland shows that by the time the vaccination appointments open to those in their fifties, it will be at least six months since 215,000 people in this age bracket received their second dose.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: ‘The SNP need to urgently step up the pace in their booster rollout.
‘Progress is stalling just as we need to be getting jags into people’s arms as quickly as possible.
‘Ensuring vulnerable and elderly people have further protection with a booster jag is crucial as we head towards the winter period.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: ‘We know that caseloads are still far too high so there can be no excuses for these delays. The Health Secretary needs to tell the public what steps he will take to speed up this rollout.
‘I am concerned that we have seen errors creeping into the vaccination programme.
‘Elderly constituents are being told they need to travel out of town to get jabbed, and there seems to be a lack of joined-up thinking in not delivering flu jabs at the same time.
‘Last winter we were facing an unprecedented pandemic. There can be no such excuses for the Health Secretary this time around.’
Yesterday, the Scottish Government said it was on target with the booster rollout. It insisted that more than 2.8million Scots will be offered the booster jab in line with recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
A spokesman said: ‘We remain on track with Scotland’s booster programme, which has been prioritising the most vulnerable by either inviting them to come forward for a vaccination or by visiting in settings such as care homes.
‘We started this as soon as possible once the JCVI provided their advice on boosters, which is that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course.
‘It’s important to note that a significant number of people would have been at the six months postsecond dose stage before the JCVI advice was received, given we started vaccinating people from December 8, 2020.
‘We are working as quickly as we can through this priority group and will then move on to adults aged 60 to 69 and those aged 16+ with underlying health conditions who will begin to receive vaccination appointment letters from late October.
‘We will then launch the portal for adults aged 50 to 59, unpaid carers 16+ and adult (16+) household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals from mid-November allowing those groups to book booster appointments online from mid-November.
‘It is important to remember that as well as providing boosters we are seeking to offer flu vaccine for everyone eligible at
the same time.’