SCOTLAND’S coronavirus vaccine programme will start next Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
The news that the UK’s medicines regulator had approved the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech “should give all of us real hope that the end of this pandemic for Scotland is now in sight,” the First Minister said yesterday.
The vaccine, which must be stored at well below freezing, will be transported to 23 locations throughout Scotland in temperature controlled lorries. Everyone being vaccinated will need two jags, between 21 and 28 days apart.
Those giving the vaccination to others will receive the injection first, followed by health and social care staff, people over 80 and residents in care homes.
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Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing, Sturgeon said: “This is the biggest logistical peacetime challenge that the country will ever have undertaken.
“The planning is well under way. But there are people in this organisation right now who are full-time working on this to make sure this goes as we need it to.”
The jab has been shown in studies to be 95% effective and works in all age groups.
The First Minister continued: “Today is genuinely a good day. We’re not at the end of the pandemic yet ... we cannot and must not ease up in our efforts to control it.
“But today does feel like it may well be the beginning of the end of this horrible experience.
“For that reason, I am sure I am far from the only one this morning who feels a lightness of heart that I haven’t felt for some time.”
Sturgeon, who is 50, said she will not be in the first groups to get the vaccine because she is “too young”.
But she added: “As soon as I can get this vaccine I will be getting this vaccine.
“I would encourage without hesitation everybody who is eligible to get this vaccine as soon as they can.”
The First Minister even suggested that she would be prepared to get the jab live on TV if it encouraged others to get it.
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However, she said clinicians like chief medical officer Gregor Smith might be better placed to encourage people.
Sturgeon and Smith then joked about injecting Scotland’s national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch.
Smith said: “I just look forward to sticking a needle in Professor Leitch’s arm at some point.”
Sturgeon replied: “I think we’re all queuing up to do that, but I’m not qualified. How long does it take to get trained for these things?”
Smith continued: “I think we could do that very quickly for you.”
Asked if people refusing the vaccine would face sanctions, the First Minister said the Scottish Government’s intention was to keep the option of the jag voluntary.
She said: “I couldn’t be clearer and I’ll never find a way to express this strongly enough that anybody should get the vaccine as soon as they are offered it. You’re protecting yourself and others.
“Vaccination has traditionally been something which is voluntary not compulsory. That shouldn’t been taken as ‘only get it if you want’.
“We’ll put everything behind what we’ve got to persuade everyone to get this vaccine.
“We keep our hand in terms of reviewing our position of this but that’s our position at the moment.
“Undoubtedly people will make a case for making the vaccine compulsory but on balance what I’m saying is it’s better that we seek to persuade people of the case for vaccination and the safety of it.”
Sturgeon suggested weel-kent faces could be used in a public health campaign to encourage take up of the vaccine.
Asked if she had anyone in mind, Sturgeon said: “We will certainly be considering an overall campaign to encourage people to come forward.
“We will consider using them, if they are willing, well known and well respected people.”
Sturgeon said it had already been suggested “that Andy Murray might be one”.
She continued: “I should say we’ve not had a conversation to the best of my knowledge with Andy Murray, but I’m sure people like that, who the vast majority in Scotland have a huge respect for, could be helpful in that.”
Meanwhile, more than 250 coronavirus deaths have been recorded in a week, according to the NRS.
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