Failure to vaccinate all 40 to 49 year olds ‘humiliating’

Almost a quarter of Scots aged 40 to 49 have still not had two coronavirus vaccines despite a target set by the First Minister, which would have seen the group fully vaccinated by Monday.

Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament last month that all those in that age group should have received both vaccine doses by July 26.

But the latest figures on the Public Health Scotland show that just 75.8% had been given two shots ahead of the target date while 90.1% had received one dose.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie branded the situation “humiliating” as she warned that the “stalling” vaccine rollout was the biggest threat to the planned route out of lockdown.

In her statement at Holyrood on June 22, Sturgeon also said all 30 to 39-year-olds are expected to have their second dose by August 20.

As of Sunday, 36.1% in that age group had received both vaccines and 80.3% have had the first dose.

Overall, 3,997,105 first doses, 89.4% of all Scottish adults, have received a first dose and 3,079,492 (69.1%) have had both.

Baillie, who is also Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, said: “The SNP’s failure to meet this flagship target is humiliating for them but it should worry us all.

“The First Minister was clear that the lifting of restrictions depends on the success of the vaccine rollout, but their failure to meet key targets raises fresh doubts.

“From the stalling vaccine programme to the collapse of test and protect, the SNP’s complacency has become the single biggest threat to our journey out of lockdown.

“With the Delta variant still rampant across Scotland, it is more important than ever that everyone gets both doses.

“More must be done to make sure everyone can get their second jab as quickly as possible.”