‘BRIBES’ RULED OUT IN YOUNG JAG DRIVE

THE Scottish Government is unlikely to offer cash ‘bribes’ to try to get more young people vaccinated, it is understood.

People in Sweden have been offered £17 to get vaccinated and US President Joe Biden has spoken about a similar scheme being introduced in the US.

However, it is understood that SNP Ministers do not plan to use incentives to boost Scotland’s flagging rollout among 18 to 30year-olds.

There are also no current plans to use coercion, such as banning entry to nightclubs, stadiums and events to people who cannot produce a vaccine passport to show they have been double jabbed – but this has not been ruled out.

At present, the Scottish Government is more focused on maximising the effectiveness of mobile vaccine units going out to people, rather than relying on them turning up at appointments.

This has been particularly effective outside football stadiums, sources say.

Although the vaccine rollout has slowed in recent weeks, with just 2,034 first doses yesterday, and 17,498 second doses, there is a belief that numbers are ‘creeping up’ enough to ensure ‘freedom day’ can take place on August 9, as planned.

Professor Linda Bauld, expert in public health at Edinburgh University, said: ‘I know it’s slow, but it’s not that bad – 72 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds have had their first dose. We need to focus on them having their second. The numbers (of vaccinated) are creeping up.’

Professor Bauld said there was little evidence to support incentives as a way of significantly increasing uptake.

She added: ‘The big gamechanger will be education and universities, which are doing a mass planning exercise for vaccinations.

‘University students is one sector where we definitely do not

want to see cases.’