Question reference: S5W-35652
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 2 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 5 May 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason data continues to show that the COVID-19 vaccination rate in NHS Lothian is lower than in many other NHS boards, and what action is being taken to increase the vaccination rate in NHS Lothian.
Answer
Population estimates of Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority groups at national level were published in the COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Plan on 14 January drawing on the latest available data at that point. The current published data showing performance at board level is based on the last published 2019, National Records of Scotland mid-year population estimates (MYE) for all those aged 16 and over. This provides an important measure of the overall coverage of the adult population (16+) who have so far been vaccinated.
A key focus of the vaccination programme at present is vaccination of those aged 50 years and over, so the younger age profile in Lothian explains why the headline coverage of the overall adult population (16+) is lower than other areas. A more accurate reflection of progress is to consider delivery based on mid-year estimates for those aged 50 and over. On this basis, internal analysis shows that vaccinations in NHS Lothian are progressing very well, in line with JCVI priority groups and according to their available supply. We are working closely with Public Health Scotland (PHS) to further develop vaccination reporting and additional breakdowns, such as vaccinations by age group in each health board, which will be published on the PHS dashboard.
Published data shows, as of 20 March, almost one third of a million people in Lothian have received their first dose of vaccine (310,398), with 29,939 of those having received their second dose. This is good progress, with a higher than expected uptake for the first JCVI priority groups and more people vaccinated overall than we anticipated compared to our deployment plan at this point.
I am also aware of an issue from Monday of this week, 15th March, that has meant several people within the NHS Lothian area have not received their appointment letter. I would like to apologise to anyone who has missed their appointment because of this delay, and encourage those who did not attend their vaccination to do so when they receive their new invitation.
Work is ongoing with National Services Scotland (NSS) and Royal Mail to investigate the cause of these delays and mitigate any future issues.