Covid-19 vaccination programme will be a major undertaking, says NHS Highland chief
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A Highland health chief has described the Covid-19 vaccination programme as "a major undertaking" that will take several months to carry out.
Dr Tim Allison, director of public health and policy for NHS Highland, was speaking after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that vaccinations are expected to start in Scotland from Tuesday.
It comes after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority.
Dr Allison said: “Over the last few months we have been working closely with the Scottish Government on the plans for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine. We are pleased that one vaccine has been given approval by the medicines regulator.
"We are aiming to begin the vaccination programme later this month. The programme is a major undertaking and will last several months.”
On Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon described the development as the best news since the start of the pandemic.
Ms Sturgeon said that, following guidance from the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination, the first people to get the vaccination will be:
- Those administering the vaccinations
- Older residents in care homes
- Health and social care workers
- Those over 80 years of age
She expects the first phase of vaccinations to be completed early in the new year.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I want to very warmly and very enthusiastically welcome the news that the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been authorised for supply in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
“This isn’t unexpected – but nevertheless, because it confirms that a safe and effective vaccine can now be used, it is without a shadow of a doubt the best news we have heard since the pandemic started.
“We are not at the end of this pandemic yet, and of course we cannot and must not ease up in our efforts to control it. But this does feel like it may well be the beginning of the end of this horrible experience.
“For that reason I am sure that I am far from the only one who feels a lightness of heart that I haven’t felt in quite some time.
“In terms of the detail, we expect the vaccines to be delivered over the course of December and we expect that will start to happen over the course of the next few days.
“And if we receive the first doses of the vaccine as soon as we are expecting to – and there is no reason to doubt that – then I can confirm that the first vaccines against Covid will be administered on December 8.
Everyone will be required to take two doses of the vaccine and these will be likely to be offered 21 to 28 days apart.
“It is, of course, worth noting that everyone will be required to take two doses of the vaccine and these will be likely to be offered 21 to 28 days apart, so it is very likely to take until early in the new year to complete the first vaccine courses.
“There is no doubt that to be able to start a vaccination course next week is absolutely fantastic news.
“We will, of course, start by vaccinating those who will be vaccinating everyone else. We will then follow the independent advice from the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination – they have recommended prioritising those with the greatest clinical need.
“Older residents in care homes, health and social care workers, those aged over 80... these groups will therefore be the first people who we seek to vaccinate.”
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Maree Todd said NHS boards would identify acceptable locations for mass vaccination and access and would manage local vaccination clinics.
“This really is the most positive news we have had in some time," Ms Todd said. "This has been an incredibly tough year for everyone across the Highlands and Islands and throughout Scotland, but finally we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
“As the First Minister mentioned, the roll-out of the vaccine will be the biggest peacetime logistical challenge that the country will have ever taken on. There is no doubt that there will be challenges ahead, but it is certainly a turning point.
“While the end of this pandemic is firmly in sight, we must continue to follow all the necessary steps to protect each other. The Highlands and Islands may be in level one, but it is just as important that we adhere to the restrictions in place to suppress the spread of the virus.”
