At 8pm tonight, SNP will miss vaccine target... by 460,000 jabs
THE Scottish Government will miss its target to vaccinate all over-18s by today, sparking accusations the SNP is ‘asleep at the wheel’ as Scotland becomes the UK’s Covid infection capital.
Last week, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said the rollout of first doses for all who were eligible would be completed by this evening. Yet new figures show roughly 460,000 adults are still to receive a single shot.
Ministers are now under pressure over vaccinations, with opposition parties expressing concern about the progress of the inoculation drive.
This newspaper has consistently held the Scottish Government to account over its sluggish jab rollout.
Just last week, we revealed vaccination rates were the slowest the country had seen since midMarch when the programme was in its infancy.
Yesterday, major weaknesses in the NHS’s vaccine helpline were also revealed, as figures showed tens of thousands of Scots had been forced to abandon calls to the emergency number as they had gone unanswered.
It was also announced on Friday that a number of Scotland’s largest vaccination centres are soon to be closed.
Last night Labour’s health spokesman, Jackie Baillie, said: ‘The Scottish Government said it would have ensured every adult in Scotland had a single vaccine dose by July 18 – but the statistics show they’re well off target. The SNP must come clean over their broken promises and failures.’
Tory health spokesman, Annie Wells, added: ‘Scotland and the UK’s vaccine scheme has been a phenomenal success story, which makes it even more disappointing that the SNP are on course to miss their target. At a crucial moment in the pandemic, they seem to be asleep at the wheel.’
The Scottish Government last night insisted it had reached its deadline – arguing that the shortfall was the result either of people refusing to have the vaccine, or being offered the jab within the timeframe but choosing to reschedule their appointments.
Yesterday’s figures show there were 2,317 new Covid cases reported, 270 more than the previous day.
In the 24 hours between Friday and Saturday there were also 517 people in hospital with Covid and 49 people in intensive care. Another four deaths were reported. The vaccine effort does not appear to be keeping pace with rising cases, with about 460,000 over-18s still to get their first dose.
Statistics show 3,970,026 people have received the first dose of a vaccine and 2,954,776 have received their second doses.
Public health data shows 68.4 per cent of people aged 18-29 have had one dose of a vaccine so far, with only 20.2 per cent fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, 80.5 per cent of 30 to 39-year-olds have had their first dose, and 30.4 per cent both. Hospitalisations for this group are now higher than any other age range.
Plans to shut the SSE Hydro in Glasgow from today to make way for COP26 preparations have been met with incredulity.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: ‘It is baffling that the SNP have chosen this moment to shut the Hydro for vaccinations.
‘COP26 doesn’t start until late October and there are a dozen events at the Hydro before then.’
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has said the programme will be moving to community hubs, which are thought to have a higher attendance record.
A spokesman said there will also be more focus on mobile units and drop-in centres.
‘Must come clean over their broken promises’