PREPARE FOR COVID JAB EVERY YEAR
Adviser says booster needed each winter
COVID-19 booster jabs could be needed every year, says the Scottish Government’s top adviser.
National clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said the entire adult population – some four million people – could be given a dose of the vaccine each winter, starting this year.
The Scottish Government has previously said it wants every adult vaccinated by the end of July.
Speaking to Holyrood’s Covid-19 Committee, which also extended emergency legislation until the end of September, Leitch said: “What we’re anticipating is probably annual vaccination – that’s what most of the experts in respiratory viruses and vaccination expect we’ll need.
“That would mean a booster dose for those who have already been done, which will be the whole adult population, by the end of July.
“That would probably happen going into winter 2021 – I can’t know that for sure, it may be that immunity lasts long enough so we can do it in the spring, but let’s presume we’ve got manufacturing upscaled, the world is ready and we can do 4.5million people in the winter of 2021.”
The emergency laws that were extended until September give protection to tenants in the rental sector, ensure firms based in tax havens don’t receive financial support from the Scottish Government and make changes to the justice system.
The Scottish Tories on the committee tried to vote down the changes, with convener Donald Cameron saying it was time to “take stock” of the impact of the legislation.
Cameron said: “A full year has passed and it is correct to analyse what has worked and what has not worked.”
But Constitution Secretary Mike Russell said he was “very disappointed” the Tories had taken that view, adding that a new government, which would take power in May, would still be able to “take stock” despite the laws being in place.
He said: “The proposal from the Scottish Conservatives will leave Scotland without the defence that comes from these regulations. That is a foolish thing to do and is letting the people of Scotland down.”