Health Secretary Jeane Freeman (pictured) has welcomed the interim advice set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the next stage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme.
Ms Freeman said:
“We welcome the interim advice of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation for phase two of the vaccine deployment programme to continue prioritising people for vaccinations by age, as this is assessed to be the best way to address the risk of severe illness and mortality.
“All four UK nations will follow the recommended approach for phase two of the vaccine roll out, subject to the final advice given by the independent expert committee.
“Each government remains focused on the target to offer a first vaccination to all those in the phase one priority groups by the middle of April and the remainder of the adult population by the end of July subject to the availability of supplies.
“The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow.
“All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”
