FM says rollout of vaccine remains on course

More than half of adults in Scotland have now received a first dose of coronavirus vaccine, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The first minister also confirmed the Scottish Government was on course to have offered a first dose to all adults by the end of July, supplies permitting.

As she revealed three deaths of coronavirus patients and 692 new cases in the past 24 hours, she said the Scottish Government was also set to have offered a first vaccine jag to all JCVI priority groups by mid-April.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions at Ms Sturgeon said 2,249,612 people in Scotland had received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination as of 7.30am yesterday and 249,252 had received their second dose.

She told MSPs: “We are on track by the end of the day to have given a first dose to more than half of the adult population which is a very significant milestone.”

The first minister said “virtually all” those people aged 65 and over in Scotland had now received their first vaccine dose.

A total of 93% of those aged between 60 and 64 had had their first jag, along with 63% of 55 to 59-year-olds and 41% of 50 to 54-years-olds.

Ms Sturgeon said: “All of this I think is very encouraging and very hopeful indeed.

“It means as we take part in this final session of First Minister’s Questions of this parliamentary term a return to greater normality for the country is now much more in sight.”

Ms Sturgeon added that there had been a “small backlog” in processing missing appointment queries but this had now been cleared.