Covid jags available for over-50s as rate rises

People in Scotland over the age of 50 and who have no underlying health conditions will start being called to book a winter vaccine from tomorrow.

Those aged between 50 and 64 are being encouraged to get the jab to protect against Covid-19 and flu, and to help ease pressure on the NHS over the winter months. Appointments can be made on the NHS Inform website from tomorrow.

These can also be rescheduled online – with a national helpline available for those without internet access.

The announcement comes as Scotland has seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases. The Office for National Statistics said an estimated one in 35 people in Scotland had the virus in the week up to October 10.

That is a rise from one in 50 people in the week up to September 29.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said uptake of the vaccines has been “encouraging”.