IT IS POSITIVE to hear that the number of positive Covid-19 cases in East Lothian has continued to fall.

As of October 10, 95 per cent of the total population over 16 have received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination.

We are also seeing a third booster vaccination given to those at clinically high risk and the rollout of our winter flu vaccination.

The great uptake in vaccination has contributed significantly to our fall in cases.

However, it is important that you do get both doses for maximum protection.

Please do go and get your Covid-19 vaccine and your flu vaccine.

If you need to reschedule, you can do this online at NHS Inform, call the flu vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 and for Covid-19 vaccination contact the local NHS Lothian Covid-19 enquiries team on 0300 790 6296.

Last week in Parliament, I listened to my colleague Paul McLennan discuss World Mental Health Day.

The importance, recognition and awareness of mental health issues has never been so significant. We shouldn’t undermine the impact the pandemic has had.

These are challenging circumstances we thought we would never have imagined – from increased isolation and loneliness, to furlough, to general fear of the virus itself.

This is far from what life used to be and a big change in how society operates.

It is normal to feel anxious or scared about these changes, but it is important that we do not suffer alone.

Please know that there is help there locally and nationally.

If you would like to access some resources, visit wellbeinglothian.scot

We also saw last week that the Supreme Court has ruled that certain parts of bills passed unanimously by Holyrood to enshrine the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are not within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

This ruling makes evident that Scotland’s parliament does not have the powers it needs to protect our children’s rights.

The lack of respect for devolution demonstrates the urgent need for independence.