Question reference: S5W-33734
- Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 3 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recruitment plans it has in place to increase the number of people able to administer the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
Answer
As part of our work to support delivery of this national programme we have modelled vaccination workforce requirements and shared this information alongside a workforce modelling tool to assist Health Boards with local delivery.
Arrangements have been made to supplement the core vaccination workforce involved in delivering our seasonal flu programme with professionals from the fields of general practice, pharmacy, dentistry and optometry. A new National Protocol will also enhance the role that Health Care Support Workers can play. We have directed NHS Education for Scotland to refer all applicants remaining on the Health and Social Care Accelerated Recruitment Portal to territorial Health Boards for consideration and we have written to Regulatory bodies including the GMC and NMC regarding the deployment of those on emergency registers as we work to deliver the biggest vaccination programme ever seen in Scotland.
Further detail is set out in the Vaccine Development Plan published on the 13th of January 2021.