Analysis: How does Scotland’s vaccine rollout compare to England as phase one draws to an end?

Scotland has almost completed phase one of its Covid-19 vaccine rollout – the first nine JCVI priority groups, which include everyone over 50 and those with underlying health conditions. said the next cohort – over 40s – will begin to receive invitationsinthenextfewdays,slightly behind those in England.

But as the vaccination programme approaches the most importantmilestoneinitsfourmonth history, it is no longer fairtosaytherolloutoffirstdoses in Scotland lags behind.

During the early months the Scottish Government was plaguedbyitscomparativesluggishness compared to vaccine progress south of the border.

Thegapbeganquitesmall–on the first day regular data was published in January, Scotland barely trailed behind, having given a first dose to just under 4 per cent of its adult population, while England had covered just over 4 per cent. But the difference began to grow, until England managed to vaccinate 20 per cent of its adult population in early February while Scotland was still on 15 per cent.

Nicola Sturgeon was lambastthescottishgovernmenthas ed by opposition politicians, and members of the public clamoured to know when they would be getting their jag.

The Scottish Government initially blamed a difference of approach–scotlandhadbegun vaccination in care homes, which are particularly timeconsuming, while the UK Government had chosen to begin withover80sinthecommunity.

Later, supply became the dominant issue, with the Scottish Government saying vaccination was hamstrung by lack of doses. BMA Scotland called for GPS to be allowed to draw doses without going through their local health board, as was the arrangement in England.

Arowescalatedaboutsecrecy over future projections of that supply,whichculminatedinthe Scottish Government publishing details in February only to delete them within hours.

However the gap has begun to reduce, and this week, for the first time since February, the coverage of vaccines in Scotland is more or less equal to that in England, with 61 per cent of adults offered a dose in Scotland, and 62 per cent in England.

In Northern Ireland, 59 per cent of adults have been given a first dose, and 62 per cent in Wales.