THE Scottish Government have been accused of "shifting the goalposts" on the Covid booster rollout.

Questions have been raised after an update on the NHS Inform website said eligible patients would be able to book appointments online "from mid-November".

However, when the booster plan was unveiled in September, the Scottish Government stated that online booking would open to over-50s and those aged 18 to 49 with underlying health conditions from mid-October.

Adults over 70 began receiving appointment letters last week. 

It comes amid signs that the decline in Covid cases in Scotland has stalled, with the number of confirmed infections plateauing at around 2,500 per day since October 6.

 

The Herald:

Scottish Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, said: “The SNP are sneakily shifting the goalposts on their own vaccination timelines. These documents show how they have quietly dropped their initial targets.

“When the SNP should be quickening the pace of the vaccine booster jag scheme at every turn, instead they are slowing it down.

“Humza Yousaf needs to urgently step up his game and guarantee jags will be in the arms of those eligible as soon as possible.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said it was "simply not true" that the changes made to the online booking portal have slowed the booster rollout, but confirmed that appointments will not open to people aged 50 to 59 until mid-November. 

She said: “Our initial intention was to make the online portal available for certain groups from mid-October but following feedback from health boards and other stakeholders we have adjusted our approach to help speed up the booster programme.

"Those over the age of 70 began to receive invitation letters last week, adults aged 60 to 69 and those aged 16+ with underlying health conditions will begin to receive vaccination appointment letters from late October.

“We will launch the portal for adults aged 50 to 59, unpaid carers 16+ and adult (16+) household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals from mid-November allowing those groups to book booster appointments online from mid-November.

"This will help maintain the pace of the vaccination programme as we enter the flu season by maximising the availability of scheduled appointments and ensure the efficient vaccination of people against both Covid-19 and seasonal flu.

“This follows advice from the JCVI, which has advised that the booster dose should be offered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccine course.”

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It comes as Scottish Labour's health spokesman Pat O'Kane wrote to Health Secretary Humza Yousaf raising concerns about access to seasonal flu jags, which are being administered in most parts of Scotland by health boards via community hubs, rather than through GP practices. 

In his letter, Mr O'Kane said he had been contacted by constitutuents living in Barrhead or Neilston who had been given appointments at a clinic more than 15 miles away, in Port Glasgow, on a Sunday.

Those who are eligible for boosters are also supposed to be offered their flu vaccines at the same appointment. 

Mr O'Kane said: "Many are elderly, have multiple health problems and are very concerned about the lack of public transport issues to Inverclyde from East Renfrewshire particularly given the ongoing industrial action on the railways on Sundays.

"One constituent has told me that due to mobility problems associated with a stroke he would be physically unable to travel the distance to receive his jab.

"I am also told that when constituents have tried to secure an alternative appointment closer to home they have been offered West Dunbartonshire which is even further away.” 

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Mr O’Kane added: “We are not yet in winter, but the NHS is already in crisis. 

“If we are to avoid deepening this crisis further, then we need to see a swift, efficient and successful rollout of the flu vaccination and the booster programme. 

“But evidence from constituents has revealed that many, including the elderly and the disabled, are being asked to travel tens of miles to be treated. 

“This is inefficient, unworkable and, with winter looming, potentially dangerous."