NHS Lothian has lowest jab rate
Vaccination rollout figures causing concern
An efficient vaccination rollout is vital for protecting elderly and at risk people Miles Briggs MSP
West Lothian still appears to be lagging behind when it comes to vaccinations.
The number of people in West Lothian who have received their vaccinations has jumped by 1675 to 9097, the most recent figures show, with 1119 people getting their jab at the mass testing site at Broxburn’s Strathbrock Partnership Centre (up until last Friday).
But they show that West Lothian and NHS Lothian as a whole is still lagging behind in giving out vaccinations.
Figures up to January 31 from Public Health Scotland do not, however include people who have been given the jabs at their local GP practice.
As a whole, NHS Lothian has vaccinated the lowest percentage of the population of any health board at 10.60 per cent (80,066), according to Public Health figures.
To date, North and South Lanarkshire have inoculated 28,513 and 26,860 respectively.
Last week, a mass vaccination centre capable of giving out doses to 2352 people every week opened in West Lothian.
Patients will now be able to get their jabs at the Strathbrock Partnership Centre in Broxburn as part of Wave Two of the national vaccination programme.
It joined the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as the first two mass vaccination centres in the country.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “An efficient vaccination rollout is vital for protecting elderly and at risk people from Covid-19, but also so that our schools can fully reopen and businesses get going again.
“Every day that the vaccinations rollout is delayed is another day where pupils aren’t able to get back to school and businesses won’t be making any income.
“In NHS Lothian it is not clear whether GP practice vaccination numbers have been included in the total, and it is very concerning that SNP ministers don’t know how many people have been vaccinated.”
Lothian Labour MSP Neil Findlay said: “This week I have been contacted by many constituents who have told me they would receive an appointment for their vaccination but no letter has been received.
“There are also large numbers who have been told to travel to Edinburgh, Leith and even Haddington or from one end of West Lothian to another.
“A lot of these people have been shielding or do not have private transport and are they afraid to travel.
“Anything that puts barriers in the way of maximising vaccine uptake is bad.
“We need local access to the Covid vaccination.”
SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop said not including vaccinations at GP practices in the Public Health Scotland totals unfortunately makes comparisons inaccurate.
She continued: “It is great to see that the Strathbrock Partnership Centre opened from February 1, and of course the mass vaccination centre at the Pyramids in Bathgate will be opening mid-February which will start to see a significant increase in both rate and volume of vaccinations.
“I have heard many of my constituents in their 70s are now getting their vaccination dates and jags. I am very impressed with the take up of the vaccine by my constituents and its good to see our older population leading by example in being vaccinated.”