Fears over transparency of vaccine supply figures
had initially agreed to withdraw the statistics from its website, it would republish them from next week as a result of “briefing” of the figures by the UK Government to the media.
She made the revelation at First Minister’s Questions after being pressed by Scottish Conservatives’ Holyrood leader Ruth Davidson on why vaccines were not getting to GPS quickly enough.
However, on his visit to Scotland, Boris Johnson said that transparency about the vaccine programme had to be tempered by security.
Asked directly about Ms Sturgeon's statement, he said: “We’re working together as one to make sure the whole country is supplied.
“Of course we're in favour of the maximum possible transparency that is compatible with security of supply. That's the crucial thing – we have to have national security of supply.”
The Scottish Government had been told by Michael Gove to remove the supply numbers from its vaccine roll-out plan, as ministers and scientific advisers were concerned that knowledge about the exact number of vaccines the UK had received would allow other countries in the world to pressurise vaccine manufacturers to divert supply.
The issue was raised after Ms Davidson said she had been contacted by family doctors who had raised concerns about a lack of vaccine being delivered to their practices.
She said since Tuesday the Scottish Government had around one million vaccines available for use, and it was up to NHS Scotland to get vaccine doses to health boards, but that getting them from there to GPS was only happening weekly.
“GP after GP has been expressing their frustration at supply issues,” Ms Davidson said.
“All of which the First Minister continues to brush off. They just want it sorted out, when will she do it?”
Ms Sturgeon rejected the suggestion, saying: “I’m not brushing these concerns off, I’m answering in detail what’s happening.”
She added: “Ruth Davidson might have a point if we were way off meeting the targets to get through all the population groups but we're not – if anything we're on track to exceed those targets.
“In terms of supply ... I’m not going to go into detail about us publishing the expected supply and the UK Government demanding we take that out of the public domain, but are happy to brief these figures through spin to the media.
“I've said to my officials, regardless of what they say, we will go back to publishing the supply figures as of next week so we all have transparency around that.”
Ms Sturgeon said more than half of the vaccines allocated to Scotland were “already in the arms of people, and the others will be going into the arms of people in the coming days” and the government was “likely to exceed” roll-out targets.
Ms Davidson asked if the government would allow GPS to order vaccines directly.
Ms Sturgeon said the government would “discuss with those on the frontline how we better streamline the programme".
The Prime Minister also defended his heavily-criticised trip to Scotland, saying it was to thank those fighting Covid, and stressed the testing operation in Glasgow and development of a potential new vaccine in Livingston underlined the benefit of the United Kingdom.
His trip had been criticised by the First Minister as “not essential”, with Ms Sturgeon urging him to set an example and stay at home.
Several other SNP MSPS, including Livingston MP Hannah Bardell and the Scottish Greens, also questioned the wisdom of his visit.
Ahead of the visit, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told BBC Radio Scotland: "He's the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, it's absolutely essential that the Prime Minister is there to see how on the front line we are progressing in our vaccine delivery and rollout programme."
Mr Gove insisted there is "no substitute for a leader better than being there", when questioned why he did not speak to people remotely.
Labour leader sir keirstarmer also backed the Prime Minister's visit, insisting he had a right to see what was happening in all parts of the UK.
Sir Keir told LBC Radio: "I'm with the Prime Minister on this one.
"He is the Prime Minister of the UK. It's important that he travels to see what is going on, on the ground."
During his trip the PM also insisted his Brexit trade deal will be "very beneficial" in the medium to long term for fishermen but admitted that initial problems were "inevitable".
MPS have warned the Government that the entire fishing industry could be destroyed if ministers do not fix customs clearance technology at the border which has hampered fish and seafood trade since Britain started operating on fresh terms with the European Union at the start of the year. Industry officials said Peterhead, Europe's biggest fish market, has been turned into a ghost town by Brexit due to boats being "tied up" and exporters "crippled".
Mr Johnson said he would be happy to meet with the fishing sector to "explain why I think we've done the right thing with Brexit".
He said: "Of course, there are teething problems in lots of areas - that's inevitable. Be in no doubt that over the long term, the changes are very beneficial for Scottish fishing."