Question reference: S5W-36066
- Asked by: Ruth Davidson, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 24 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the City of Edinburgh Council area and NHS Lothian’s percentage coverage of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccinations are reportedly the lowest of all local authorities and NHS boards respectively, and when it expects them to be in line with the national average.
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 10 th March, over a quarter of a million people in Lothian have received their first dose of vaccine with over 23,000 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). They will start to invite groups 8 (55-59 years) and 9 (50-54 years) in line with available supply. NHS Lothian’s target date to begin appointing JCVI priority cohort 9 is week commencing 29 March with target completion date of 9 April, dependent on vaccine supply.