Question reference: S6W-02314
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 17 August 2021
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 25 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason people under 40 who were given the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for their first dose, prior to the recommendation that this age group should receive an alternative vaccine, are not being offered the option of an alternative vaccine for their second dose.
Answer
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have recommended that, where operationally possible, those aged under 40 should receive an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
However, everybody who has already had a first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of the same jab, irrespective of age, except for the very small number of people who experienced blood clots with low platelet counts from their first vaccination. There have been no confirmed cases of thromboembolic events to date in second doses.
People will not be offered options on which vaccine they will receive, unless there is a clinical reason why this would be required, such as an allergy. Any vaccine authorised for use in the UK, by the appropriate Medical authorities is safe and effective, and will have a similar effect in terms of protection.
It is also worth noting that this is the case with many other vaccines. People are not routinely offered a choice of the type of vaccines in other vaccine programmes in Scotland. The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce an option for receiving either COVID-19 vaccine, beyond a clinical recommendation as the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks for the vast majority of the population.