Question reference: S5W-35957
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 11 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 the COVID-19 vaccine rollout appears to be demonstrably slower in the City of Edinburgh than in other areas.
Answer
Population estimates of JCVI priority groups were published in the COVID-19 Vaccine deployment plan on 14 January drawing on the latest available data at that point. The variance in the population demographic across Health Board areas for the age groups is not accounted for. The uptake data published by Public Health Scotland against these denominators means it may appear that Lothian are behind, however this is not the case.
NHS Lothian have vaccinated in line with JCVI priority groups according to their available supply. As published data shows, as at 3rd May, 416,325 people (55.1% of the population) in Lothian have received their first dose of vaccine with over 174,822 (23.1% of the population) of those having received their second dose – this is good progress.
Lothian are currently vaccinating priority groups 6 (underlying health conditions and unpaid carers) and 7 (60-64 years). Due to the sizes of these cohorts, vaccination of these groups is ongoing. Lothian are also currently inviting group 10 for vaccination appointments (people aged 40 years or over).