If you can’t make your COVID-19 vaccination appointment due to self-isolation, you can rebook your appointment at http://invitations.vacs.nhs.scot or attend any of the drop-in locations listed here: http://nhsinform.scot/vaccinedropinclinics….
Over 88% of adults have had a first dose and over 72% of adults have had both doses
More than 85 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the UK, the latest figures show, as the UK government continues to urge everyone eligible to get their vaccines as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones.
A total of 85,196,986 doses have been administered in the UK, with 46,851,145 people receiving a first dose (88.6%) and 38,345,841 people receiving both doses (72.5%).
The latest data from Public Health England (PHE) and Cambridge University shows that around 60,000 deaths, 22 million infections and 52,600 hospitalisations have been prevented by vaccines up to 23 July.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “In under eight months, health services across the UK have delivered more than 85 million doses – this is a phenomenal achievement. It has shown Britain at its best.
“From our NHS administering the jabs, to the armed forces, thousands of volunteers and civil servants, you have all played an important role in getting us to this life-saving milestone – and I want to thank you all for your tireless efforts.
“Please get both of your jabs if you haven’t already to protect yourself and your loved ones.”
Data from PHE shows COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. The analysis shows the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% effective against hospitalisation after two doses.
The UK met the Prime Minister’s target ahead of schedule to vaccinate two thirds of adults in the UK with both doses and to offer a first dose to all adults by 19 July.
All adults in the UK are able to get their second doses after eight weeks. This will mean every adult has the chance to have two doses by mid-September.
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “Our COVID-19 vaccination programme has been an enormous success and has allowed us to cautiously ease restrictions.
“Getting both doses of the vaccine is one of the most important things people can do to help build a wall of defence around yourself, your loved ones and our country.
“I urge everybody to get their jabs so we can carry on doing the things we’ve missed.”
From the end of September, people will be required to prove they’ve had both jabs to enter nightclubs and music events in England.
The UK government announced that people who have been vaccinated with both doses will not have to quarantine on their return to England from an amber list country, providing they received their second jab at least 14 days prior.
From 16 August, double vaccinated people will also no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, and will be advised to take a PCR test.
The government announced that double vaccinated frontline NHS and social care staff in England who have been told to self-isolate will be permitted to attend work in exceptional circumstances and replaced by testing mitigations.
A limited number of critical workers may also in exceptional circumstances be able to leave self-isolation to attend work if deemed a close contact and informed to do so by their employer.
The UK government secured access to more than 500 million doses of the most promising COVID-19 vaccines early on behalf of the entire UK, crown dependencies and overseas territories.
The UK’s medicine’s regulator, the MHRA, was the first in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, allowing the rapid deployment of vaccines across the country and ensuring the UK has one of the fastest vaccination programmes in the world.
YouGov polling shows the UK continues to be one of the top nations where people are willing to have a COVID-19 vaccine or have already been vaccinated and ONS data published on 2 July shows that more than 9 in 10 (96%) adults reported positive sentiment towards the vaccine.
Vaccines are available free of charge and from thousands of vaccine centres, GP practices and pharmacies. Around 98% of people live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre in England and vaccinations are taking place at sites including mosques, community centres and football stadiums.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will give an update on the latest plans for easing restrictions in Scotland tomorrow.
Children and young people with certain conditions are to be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, in line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), before the majority of schools return on the 16th of August.
The vaccine will be offered to around 4,000 children and young people affected by severe neuro-disabilities, Down’s syndrome, underlying conditions resulting in immunosuppression, and those who have a diagnosis of Learning/Intellectual disability.
In addition, the JCVI recommended vaccinating young people aged 16 to 17 years of age who are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. While the vast majority of this group were previously invited in an earlier part of the vaccination programme we will be inviting those that are now 16 who were not vaccinated as part of that earlier offer.
Also to be invited are children and young people aged 12-17 who are household contacts of adults or children who are immunosuppressed. This is to provide indirect protection for that member of their household. A household contact is defined as someone living in the same house, or anyone the adult or child comes in to contact with face-to-face on most days of the week – such as a carer.
NHS Scotland is aiming to vaccinate these children and young people during August alongside those younger household contacts of people with immunosuppression.
Those children and young people with specific conditions and their parents or carers will be contacted directly by their local Health Boards via letter, phone call or by their regular healthcare professional. The household contacts of the wider group of people with immunosuppression will be contacted by a letter from the National Vaccination Programme.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “In line with the latest JCVI advice we will now be offering COVID-19 vaccinations to children and young people aged between 12 and 17 from key groups.
“The programme has always offered vaccine to groups where the benefits far outweigh the risks. The research and evidence shows that is the case for young people in these groups and they should now be called forward for a COVID-19 vaccine.
“These children and young people will be able to get the vaccine in the most appropriate setting for their situation. This may be in their own home or a care setting, or at a clinic, depending on their care or health needs.
“I would urge any parent or carer who has a child or young person eligible for a vaccine to visit NHS Inform where they can find the most up-to-date information; and read the leaflet that they will receive with their letter or from their Health Board. Parents, carers or young people can also speak to their local health professional to discuss this further if they need to.”
NHS’ Lothian’s vaccination Lothian Buses vaccination bus is rolling into the Grassmarket again today.
Anyone over 18 who requires either a 1st or 2nd dose of Moderna or AZ (provided they received the 1st more than 8 weeks ago) can attend – no appointment necessary.
More details: https://www.nhslothian.scot/…/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx
NHS Lothian’s pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic scheme has seen its most successful day at Gyle Shopping Centre with 330 people attending.
The Gyle Shopping Centre pop-up clinic was launched on Tuesday (27 July) within an outlet at the centre alongside some of the biggest names in retail, allowing for those shopping or working nearby to drop-in to get their life-saving vaccine.
For the first time all three vaccines are available, allowing those in need of a second dose of Pfizer to be vaccinated. Moderna and AstraZeneca are also available at the centre.
The clinic is open to everyone over the age of 18 for their first or second dose, provided there has been an eight week gap between vaccinations.
Pat Wynne, Director of Community Nursing, NHS Lothian, said: “To see these numbers come through our clinic at Gyle is fantastic and it reinforces our decision to use pop-up clinics in order to move forward with our vaccination programme.
“We are really pleased to have teamed up with Gyle Shopping Centre and we are grateful to them for providing this space for such a prominent drop-in clinic and supporting our team with queue management.
“Sites like Gyle Shopping Centre are great venues for us because they allow people to easily drop in when they are out shopping or taking a break from work. I would encourage anyone who is due to be vaccinated to consider coming to our Gyle clinic as soon as possible.”
The Gyle pop-up clinic will run until Saturday 14 August and is open every day between 10am to 6pm.
Mr Wynne added: “Pop-up clinics are part of the campaign to target younger people and make it as easy as possible for them to get the vaccine in the places they visit.
“We feel the clinic at Gyle will also help us target people between the ages of 18-29, who we especially need to come forward for vaccination. We remain determined to do everything we can to make sure as many people are vaccinated as possible.”
NHS Lothian’s vaccination bus, which is being run along with Lothian Buses, is continuing to visit sites across Lothian. More details on its locations can be found in the COVID vaccination hub on NHS Lothian’s website.
The Scottish Ambulance Service’s vaccination bus has celebrated a huge milestone – the delivery of 10,000 vaccines to individuals across the country, as part of Scotland’s national vaccination programme.
To mark this significant moment, the Service, working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, brought the vaccination bus to Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park, today (Wednesday 28th July).
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf, MSP, was in attendance at Hampden to help mark this achievement and to witness the vital work being carried out.
He met with the Consultant Paramedic Paul Kelly, who has been leading the vaccination bus programme with other colleagues, and Scottish Professional Football League Referee John Beaton, who was there to encourage people to get vaccinated.
Over the last six months, the Service has been working in partnership with health boards and local authorities to support the delivery of the national vaccination programme. This has included taking the vaccination bus to local community settings, such as football grounds and shopping centre car parks, to demonstrate the benefits of a responsive and tailored approach to reach communities across Scotland.
Pauline Howie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “Reaching the milestone of delivering 10,000 doses of the vaccine is incredibly significant, and it’s been made possible with the dedication of our colleagues, and our close working with Scottish Government, Health Boards and local authorities across Scotland to reach into communities.
“It’s so simple to get vaccinated and protect yourself and others from Covid-19. Just come along to our vaccine buses, roll up your sleeve, and our professional team will administer the vaccine. If we work together, we can all do our part in beating the Pandemic.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The vaccination programme has been a huge success and it is great to see so many people taking advantage of the mobile units.
“It is fantastic that the staff at the vaccination bus have administered 10,000 jags and I want to thank them all for their hard work in helping to get our national programme out into the community, making getting a vaccine easier than ever.
“You can pop in to the bus while you are out shopping or walking and staff will answer any questions you have in relation to the COVID-19 vaccination.
“All of the evidence says that the vaccines are working as we continue to battle the faster-transmitting Delta variant so I urge everyone to take advantage of the vaccination programme which is open to every adult in Scotland.”
Dr Emilia Chrighton, Deputy Director for Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who has come forward so far to receive a vaccination. This is the single biggest factor in helping us control the virus.
“The vaccine bus has played a key role in the vaccination programme rollout so far, and alongside drop-in clinics and appointment clinics, has helped provide as many routes to vaccination to make it as easy for the public as possible.”
NHS Lothian has opened a pop-up vaccination clinic at Gyle Shopping Centre.
The team can administer all three vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca – so it is open to all ages. No appointment is necessary and those needing a first or second dose are welcome, as long as you have waited eight weeks between injections.
The clinic, which is just next to M&S, will run from 10am til 6pm, seven days a week from today – Tuesday 27 July.
More information here: http://ow.ly/3IWJ50FDPel
Good afternoon everyone. As you can see I am joined today by Dr Nicola Steedman, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and she will answer questions with me shortly.
Firstly, though, an update on the current state of the pandemic, starting with a summary of today’s statistics.
1,604 positive cases were reported yesterday – 9.2% of all of tests carried out. That takes the total number of confirmed cases now to 332,455.
There are 529 people now receiving hospital treatment – which is 7 fewer than yesterday and 47 people are in intensive care, that is 2 more than yesterday.
Sadly, a further 13 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, which means that the total number of deaths registered, under the daily definition, is now 7,813.
As always, my condolences are with everyone who has suffered bereavement.
Now, although case numbers remain high – and I’ll cover the implications of that shortly – they are very much right now on a downward path.
To illustrate that point – in the 7 days up to 2 July, there were an average of 3,305 new cases being reported each day but, in the 7 days to 16 July, that had fallen to an average of 2,112 new cases a day.
So that amounts to a decline in the past two weeks of more than 1/3 – and that is very encouraging. Because of that, we were able to go ahead yesterday with the move to level 0.
But as I said a moment ago, case numbers – though they are definitely falling – do remain higher than we should be comfortable with.
Covid as we know is highly infectious – indeed, Delta is significantly more transmissible than previous variants of the virus.
And although vaccination is weakening the link between Covid cases and serious illness, the virus is still potentially dangerous.
And, of course, long Covid is affecting many, including those in younger age groups.
All of this means that vigilance and care remain really important. Restrictions were eased yesterday as part of a gradual process – but restrictions were not abandoned yesterday.
Important measures and mitigations do remain in place – and we continue to ask people across the country and I do so again today to treat the threat that Covid poses seriously at this stage.
I’ll emphasise that point in more detail towards the end of my remarks, but before then I’ll touch briefly on some other issues.
The first of those is vaccination.
As of this morning, 3,984,433 people had received their first dose of vaccine.
That’s an increase of 2,483 since yesterday. As you can see were are getting to the end of first doses.
In addition to that, 16,340 people had a second dose yesterday and that means the total number of second doses is now 2,995,086.
All adults have now been offered first dose appointments – indeed that has happened earlier than we had initially anticipated.
And as of now, around 90% of all adults in the population have actually taken up the opportunity and had the first jag administered.
Also, more than 2/3 of all adults have had the second dose as well – and that proportion will continue to rise on a daily basis, as the programme of second doses continues.
Remember the clinical advice is that – in order to maximise the protection and the longevity of the protection of the vaccine – we should leave 8 weeks between first and second doses.
I think it’s important to say that the level of uptake achieved so far is quite remarkable by the standard of any previous vaccination programme. And it actually exceeds what we dared hoped for when this programme started back at the turn of the year. That said, we want to see uptake levels increase further, we want to get as close to 100% uptake as it is possible to do.
To put it bluntly, each and every single person who gets jagged helps us take a step back to normality. And of course the converse of that is true, for as long as there remains a proportion of eligible people who have not had the vaccine that leaves us with a vulnerability against the virus.
So we must keep at it.
Although around 90% of all adults have taken up the offer of the first dose, so far amongst 30 – 39 year olds that is only 81% and in the 18 – 29 year old age group it is 70%.
So I want to stress again today and we will keep stressing this that if you are 18 or over, and if you haven’t yet had a first dose, then you can still get it. In fact, we really, really want you to get the first dose of vaccine.
You can access that by registering online, through NHS inform but remember you don’t have to register – you’re also able to simply turn up at one of the drop-in vaccination centres that are now operational across all mainland health board areas.
Covid is – and this is something we should always be thankful for – is less of a threat to younger people than to older people – but that doesn’t mean it poses no threat at all to young people.
Some young people do need hospital care when they get the virus, some young people will even end up in intensive care and of course, as we know, young people can get long Covid which we still don’t fully understand the implications of.
Vaccination will help protect you from those risks– but it will also help you protect other people.
So please – get vaccinated as soon as you possibly can. If you know somebody in a younger age group in your own family that hasn’t had the vaccine yet, please encourage them to do so. There’s lots of information on the NHS Inform website, not just about how to get the vaccine but about the vaccine itself. It is a safe vaccine so please get it or encourage those you know who haven’t done so already to get it.
It’s the single most important thing any of us can do right now to give protection to ourselves but also protect others and of course to help all of us collectively get back to more normality.
Obviously, we want to extend the protection of the vaccine as far as we can.
To that end, the advice yesterday from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the vaccination of 12 to 17 year olds is important and I want to spend just a couple of minutes talking about that.
At this stage – given that it considers the risk of 12 to 17 year olds falling seriously ill from Covid to be very low – the JCVI is not recommending that we vaccinate all young people in that 12 to 17 year olds age group.
Now, the Scottish Government has always followed the advice of the JCVI – for good reason. You’ll have heard me talk about that before in different contexts including recently that eight week interval between first and second doses.
But I am acutely aware that some other countries are vaccinating younger teenagers and I certainly consider it to be extremely important that this is not ruled out here.
So to that end, the Chief Medical Officer is writing to the JCVI asking that the benefit of vaccinating all 12-17 year olds is kept under close and ongoing review – and that it takes account of all available data from countries already doing this. I think that it is really important if there is a benefit to be got from vaccinating younger teenagers then it’s really important that we make sure younger people don’t lose out on that.
In the meantime though and most immediately, we intend to get on with implementing what the JCVI is recommending – and it is recommending that vaccine should be offered to specific groups of 12 to 17 year olds.
Vaccination is already available to 16 and 17 year olds at higher risk of falling seriously ill and they will continue to be eligible.
But in addition, the JCVI is advising that 12 to 15 year olds should be eligible for vaccination if they have Down’s Syndrome; severe neuro-disabilities; or underlying conditions that mean their immune systems are suppressed.
In addition, it advises vaccination for 12 to 15 year olds with severe learning disabilities; with profound and multiple learning disabilities; or who are on the learning disability register.
Finally, vaccination is recommended for 12 to 17 year olds who are household contacts of people with suppressed immune systems. And in that latter case that is less about the protection of the young person and more about the protection of somebody they may live with.
We will shortly provide details of our operational plans to vaccinate these groups of young people as quickly as possible.
And of course in light of what I said earlier about this advice being kept under review, we will make sure that we are prepared to go further as soon as that is recommended. If indeed that is recommended.
The final point on vaccination I want to stress is that if you are currently 17 years old but if you are due to turn 18 on or before 31 October this year, you are now eligible for vaccination as part of this year’s programme.
You can self-register again through the portal on NHS Inform or go to a drop in centre.
So, I want to just emphasise this point today, if you or indeed if you know somebody in this category, if you are due to turn 18 before the end of October, register for an appointment or go to a drop-in centre, and get your vaccination as soon as possible.
Finally, today, I want to return briefly to the need for all of us to continue to treat this virus seriously and follow all of the rules and advice still in place.
We did take a further very welcome step back to normality yesterday with the next step in what is a careful and gradual easing of restrictions.
Full details of what that means are on the Government’s website.
These rules are more relaxed, considerably more relaxed than the ones we’ve all had to live with in the first part of the year.
But – as I mentioned at the start – case levels are still high and Covid is still dangerous.
So I want to comment more today on the things – in addition of course to that vital imperative of vaccination – that it is important for us still to do so that we are individually and collectively reducing the risk.
Because of vaccination, we are undoubtedly in a much better position than we were last year, or even at the start of this year. But we can’t abandon caution altogether or at least we will be foolish if we do that. We all still have a role to play, in helping to protect ourselves and each other.
Firstly, although the limits have increased slightly as of yesterday, the limit on the number of friends and family who can meet together – 8 people from 4 households indoors and 15 from 15 households outdoors – is still really important because that limits the number of households the virus might spread to as the result of one social occasion.
Face coverings also remain important – and a really good way for all of us to help protect each other – and of course they continue to be a legal requirement in certain settings here in Scotland and indeed that requirement to wear face coverings in some settings is likely to remain in force for some time to come.
Also, please test yourself regularly, particularly if you are planning to visit somebody, or go to an event or perhaps if you’re planning to spend a few days on holiday in a different part of the country.
Free lateral flow tests can be obtained through NHS inform. You can get them sent to you by post but you can also collect them from testing centres and local pharmacies.
Remember If you test positive through one of these devices – or indeed if you have symptoms of the virus – then you should self-isolate, and book a PCR test as quickly as possible.
And, lastly, because it remains really important, please keep following all the basic hygiene measures.
Meet other people outdoors as much as possible and particularly while the weather is as good as it is right now. It’s a really good opportunity to stay outdoors and minimise the risk of transmission that bit more.
As I said a moment ago, stick to the limits on group sizes, and if you are meeting indoors, open windows and keep rooms well ventilated.
And please remember physical distancing, hand-washing, face coverings as I’ve just said – all of these measures are as important now as they have been throughout.
And if all of us do these things, then I hope we will see cases continue to fall in the days and weeks to come and if that happens then that creates the conditions we hope for a further easing of the remaining restrictions over the next few weeks.
My thanks again to everybody for all of your cooperation and all of the sacrifices you continue to make. It doesn’t get any easier but it remains really important so my thanks to everyone.
COVID vaccination bus is still at Tesco, Musselburgh today until 7pm.
The bus will be rolling back into Edinburgh tomorrow to Morrisons on Ferry Road.
You can get your shopping as well as you 1st or 2nd dose of Moderna or Astra Zeneca:
https://nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Drop-in-Clinics.aspx
The vaccination programme completed first doses for all over 18s who have attended their scheduled appointments at close of play yesterday – Sunday 18 July.
Second doses continue to be scheduled and it is expected all adults will have received them by Sunday 12 September.
Some of those eligible have rearranged their initial appointment for health or work reasons and will get their first dose shortly. Anyone else who has not yet received their first dose for whatever reason is urged to head to a local drop-in clinic or go to NHS Inform to book an appointment convenient for them.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “It is testament to the incredible work being done by all those involved in the vaccination programme that we have reached this milestone of giving first doses to all those who attended their scheduled appointments.
“I want to thank them and of course, everyone who has taken up their offer of a vaccine as each and every one is playing their part in helping us out of the pandemic and of course, protecting themselves and those around them.
“For anyone who hasn’t yet come forward, we urge you to do so now. We have made getting a vaccination easier than ever – head to one of the drop-in clinics being offered across the country or, if you prefer, book an appointment online at NHS Inform. Please check your NHS board’s social media posts for the latest information on where you can attend.
“All of the evidence says that the vaccines are working as we continue to battle the faster-transmitting Delta variant which is now dominant so I urge everyone to take advantage of the vaccination programme which is open to every adult in Scotland.”
