Over-50s without vaccine should ‘continue to be patient’, says Smith

Over-50s and those with underlying health conditions who have still not received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine after the Scottish and UK governments declared that cohort complete should “continue to be patient”, chief medical officer Gregor Smith has said.

The Scottish Government announced on April 13 the first ninepriority groups had been hit, with a “small number” of people still to receive their appointment.

As of Sunday, more than 100,000 Scots in these groups had still not been given a first dose, including 102,000 people aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions.

Some36,000peopleaged50to 55havenotreceivedafirstdose, along with just under 10,000 people aged 55 to 60.

Those Scots over-50 who also have an underlying health condition will be counted in both groups.

People who have taken all necessary steps to try and get an appointment, including calling the national vaccination helpline and ensuring their details are dully up to date, should be patient, Dr Gregor Smith said yesterday. "People have been very, very patient, and I would just ask them to continue to be patient,” he told the BBC’S Good Morning Scotland. If they have contacted the vaccination helpline andgivenallthecorrectdetails, then they will get their appointment through.”

Drsmithsaidasmallnumber of people had not been given an appointment yet.

“If there are a small number of people who haven’t received their letter yet and they are in the over 50 age group, I would suggest to them that they contact the vaccination helpline just to make sure all the details are correct for them,” he said.