Jostles in queue as frozen Scots wait for 3 hours to get boosters
THOUSANDS of people queued in the cold for their boosters yesterday as Scotland’s health service scrambled to meet its jabs target.
Across the country, the rollout of the crucial third dose is ramping up – with figures released yesterday showing that almost 60,000 boosters had been delivered in the previous 24 hours.
But the Herculean challenge of getting so many jabs in arms is putting the system under strain.
As temperatures dropped to just above freezing yesterday, thousands formed long snaking lines outside vaccination centres.
With some waiting up to three hours to be seen, there were reports of jostling in queues, elderly and vulnerable people being taken unwell and bad-tempered stand-offs as some tried to sneak in without appointments. Over the past few days, hundreds of people have been turned away despite having appointments.
Many staff ran out of time to offer injections to the numbers queuing for their jab – leading one health board to offer an apology to those who have been not been able to receive their booster.
Facing a surge in Omicron cases, Nicola Sturgeon earlier this month promised to accelerate the booster programme, to ensure every eligible adult would receive their third dose by the end of January.
A target was set for the health service to deliver 70,000 jabs a day. However, on Thursday the Scottish Government reduced the target, and said the aim was to deliver 61,000 doses a day until the end of the year.
Yesterday’s figures showed that 59,782 Scots had received a third jab in the previous 24 hours. The previous day had seen a record 63,000 doses administered.
A Public Health Scotland report has warned that the ‘predicted exponential increases’ in Omicron cases could put ‘significant pressure’ on hospitals in coming weeks. Health experts believe the booster shot will offer much better protection from the new strain, which was first detected in Scotland at the end of November.
In September health workers were the first group to be able to receive a booster jag to help in the fight against Covid. The over-70s and vulnerable over-16s were next, followed by other eligible groups, including over-50s and adult and unpaid carers, and last month, the over-40s.
A month ago around 35,000 people were receiving their boosters every day.
However, since the confirmation that the Omicron variant was in Scotland there has been an unprecedented acceleration of the vaccination campaign.
Ms Sturgeon announced at the beginning of last week that anyone over 30 who had their second jag at least three months earlier was eligible for a booster. Days later, this was extended to anyone over 18, leading to an immediate surge in appointments.
A further 100 members of the Armed Forces have been drafted in to help to speed up the booster vaccine delivery, which brings the total number of military personnel assisting to 221.
However, the massive acceleration has seen the system struggle to cope at times.
Last week hundreds of people were turned away from various sites including venues in Easterhouse, Glasgow, and Dumbarton despite having appointments booked. Yesterday tens of thousands braved the cold and queued for hours to get their third inoculation ahead of Christmas.
Wearing hats and scarves as they waited in temperatures barely above freezing, people took advantage of drop-in centres and extra venues that have been added.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde apologised to those waiting longer than expected or who had been turned away. A spokesman said:
‘Some tried to sneak in with no appointment’
‘We are working hard to maximise capacity’
‘‘We are doing everything in our power to ensure those with appointments receive their vaccines as close to their original appointment time as possible. We continue to add clinics.’
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: ‘With demand for boosters being high, I’d like to reassure everyone we have plenty of supplies and we are working hard with health boards to maximise vaccination capacity.
‘Some people may have to wait in a queue at drop-in centres but I would continue to urge everyone to be patient.
‘To anyone who has yet to receive a vaccination or booster, please book an appointment via the online portal as soon as possible.’