VACCINE LOTTERY
Delay in rollout to youngsters
SCOTTISH schoolchildren are facing a ‘postcode lottery’ when it comes to being offered the Covid vaccine.
Nicola Sturgeon had promised that dropin clinics would open yesterday for 12 to 15-year-olds to have the inoculation.
But more than half of Scotland’s health boards were yesterday unable to offer the jab to anyone under the age of 16.
The Scottish Government confirmed that only six out of 14 health boards were offering the jab to newly eligible children, but insisted it would be extended to all mainland areas later this week.
Scottish Tory public health spokesman Sue Webber said: ‘Last week Nicola Sturgeon promised young people all over the country would be able to get a vaccine as of yesterday but that hasn’t happened.
‘Already, there’s a postcode lottery of provision and signs that this latest rollout could eventually see some of the same chaotic scenes we saw earlier in the vaccine programme, when the SNP made promises they couldn’t keep.
‘We’re all pleased that these drop-in centres are on the way – but when will they actually be delivered?’
In an update on its vaccine rollout, NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: ‘We will be able to commence vaccinations for this age group from Thursday, 23 September. Under sixteens should not attend a dropin clinic for vaccine before that date.’
NHS Fife said: ‘We are working towards providing drop-in clinics for 12 to 15-yearolds from Wednesday, 22 September.
‘This is to provide time to reconfigure our vaccination venues to accommodate this cohort.’
A Government spokesman said: ‘All mainland boards will open drop-in clinics to this age group this week. Health boards have worked hard to make sure that older children and their parents have all the information they need to make informed decisions about getting the vaccine.
‘We continue to be extremely grateful to everyone who is working on the national vaccination programme.’