Give jab priority to key workers
THROUGHOUT the pandemic we have been indebted to our teachers, shop workers and police officers who have put themselves at risk to serve us.
They could be forgiven for thinking the Scottish Government would take steps to protect them once the most vulnerable in society were vaccinated against Covid-19.
Yesterday the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation announced that the second phase of the vaccination roll-out will concentrate, like the first, on how old people are – stating age is the single biggest risk to serious illness or death.
But recent studies have shown both teachers and retail staff are at greater risk of contracting the virus than the general public.
And with an increase in people defying the Covid regulations, police officers are finding themselves increasingly exposed to the dangers as they try to maintain order.
The Scottish Government has hinted for months that it may consider prioritising certain occupations in the second phase but yesterday it had a change of heart and agreed to stick rigidly to the JCVI recommendations.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman argued no government in Scotland has ignored JCVI advice in 30 years. But that isn’t a reason for blindly following it now.
These are exceptional times and teachers, police officers and retail staff have given exceptional service.
It is time to show them how much that service is valued and protect those key workers who put their own health on the line for us.
Police yesterday said they were investigating the “unexplained” death of a woman in Allison Close, Cove, Aberdeen, on Thursday.
MASKED men armed with weapons forced their way into a home and threatened a woman before stealing cash.
Cops have launched a manhunt for the two thugs after the 37-year-old, who was home alone with her child, was robbed at 2.45am in Stevenston, Ayrshire.
One suspect is described as 6ft 2in, slim and was wearing a dark longsleeved top and jeans. He is thought to have either an English or Irish accent.
The other is 5ft 10in, with a heavy build, and was wearing a dark top and jeans. He had a local accent.
The masked men are believed to have fled the scene in a white transit van.
Police said: “The woman was home with her child at the time and both were left terrified by what happened.
“Extensive inquiries are ongoing and we’re appealing for anyone who was in or near to Morrison Court in the early hours of this morning, and saw anything at all suspicious, to get in touch.”
THE Hairy Bikers say their new series in the UK will be “a love letter to the North”.
Si King and Dave Myers, have been globe-trotting for nearly a decade but went back to their roots for the eight-part BBC show they filmed last summer.
For Hairy Bikers Go North, they explore Lancashire, Cumbria, Yorkshire, the Peak District in Derbyshire, Northumberland and Newcastle.
Cumbrian Dave, 63, said: “It’s been nearly a decade since we went on the road in Britain. It’s true you quite often miss what is on your own doorstep.”
Si, 54, from County Durham, said: “This is without doubt the most personal, emotional and enlightening journey we’ve undertaken.”