Question reference: S6W-24529
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 15 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 January 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for its roll-out of the COVID-19 winter booster vaccination for each (a) age and (b) health category.
Answer
Scotland’s winter COVID-19 and flu programme commenced on 4 September, with the majority of the COVID-19 programme due to start from 18 September. We originally planned to vaccinate care home residents, people aged 75 and over and people with weakened immune system aged 12 and over from the middle of October in line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice; that protection from COVID-19 vaccines is highest in the first three months following vaccination, so by vaccinating those who are at highest risk later, we planned to give them greater protection over the period of high winter NHS pressures, into the new year.
In light of the emergence of new variant BA.2.86 in late August 2023, the Scottish Government, alongside the other 4 nations, took the precautionary measure to endeavour to bring forward vaccination of care home residents, people aged 75 and over and people with weakened immune system aged 12 and over, as close to the start of the programme, where possible.
All those eligible were invited forward via letter, email or text, prior to Christmas and although the majority of vaccinations were completed before the festive break, appointments are available until the end of the programme on 31 March 2024.
As of 14 January we have delivered 1,384,426 COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine uptake data is publicly available through the PHS dashboard and is updated weekly. It contains data broken down by age and health status. The current COVID-19 uptake is as follows (as of 14 January 2024):
Group* | % Uptake |
Care home residents | 88.1% |
75 and over | 83.6% |
65-74 | 74.0% |
Weakened immune system | 58.7% |
Scotland total | 56.8% |
6 months – 64 at risk | 35.6% |
Frontline healthcare workers | 34.6% |
Social care workers | 19.9% |
For those eligible who are yet to be vaccinated, we are working closely with PHS and the Health Boards to encourage people to come forward as virology data show that flu remains at high activity level and that JN.1 has become the predominant COVID-19 variant with rapid growth.
Any future COVID-19 vaccination programmes will be guided by advice from the JCVI. At this time the JCVI have not issued any advice on their plans for 2024-25, including any future winter programme.