More than 50% of Scots fully vaccinated against Covid

More than 50% of people in Scotland have now been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The First Minister said the figure was an “important milestone” as she provided an update at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Friday.

So far, 3,831,770 people have received the first dose of a Covid vaccination and 2,737,347 have received their second dose.

Sturgeon said that overnight, four deaths and 3823 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in Scotland.

The First Minister also said that 285 people are in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, with 19 people in intensive care.

“Today’s vaccine numbers actually take us across quite a significant milestone,” Sturgeon said at the briefing.

“More than 60% of those eligible for the vaccine have now had both doses, but as of today, more than 50% of the entire population is now fully vaccinated.

“That is an important milestone and one that will be increasing our levels of protection against this virus.”

Sturgeon also set out the the arrangements for drop-in coronavirus vaccination clinics, which are to be offered by all mainland health boards in Scotland from Monday.

It will allow everyone aged 18 and over to attend for their first dose or – if eight weeks have passed – their second dose.

The First Minister urged any unvaccinated Scots and those who have waited at least eight weeks for a second dose to get a vaccination

She said: “If you haven’t had a first dose or if you are now due for a second dose, from Monday, you’ll be able to visit a drop-in centre in order to get one.

“And let me stress, you can do this even if you’ve had a letter giving you an appointment, or if you’ve missed an appointment.

“If you’d rather turn up next week to drop in, you can do that even if you’ve had an appointment scheduled for maybe a week or two from now.”

She added: “Information about all of the drop-in centres in your own health board area will be available online so I would encourage you to check this out over the weekend.”