Military steps in again to try to cut booster delays
MORE military personnel have been drafted in to help speed up Scotland’s Covid booster and flu jab rollouts.
It comes amid concern at the number of people in priority groups having to wait more than six months after their second Covid jab for their booster.
The reinforcements, comprising some 100 vaccinators, 15 nurses and six command and support staff, will work in all 11 Scottish mainland health boards.
Under-pressure boards were already receiving Army support, with soldiers deployed in NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire since last month.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: ‘I t is expected that Covid-19 will add to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS.
‘That is why we have again requested military support to complement our existing resources.’
Official figures last week showed 616,000 people in the top priority groups – including care home residents and staff, over-70s, and frontline health workers – were due a booster dose, but only 511,807 had received it.