Spring booster dose to be offered to people at higher risk from Covid-19 in Scotland
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The Scottish Government has said that a fourth dose – or second booster – of the Covid-19 vaccine will be offered to high-risk groups.
It says it is following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
A spring booster dose will be offered at least 24 weeks after the last vaccine dose to adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults and individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed.
People in these groups will be invited as they become eligible, with the first groups receiving appointments from the second week in March.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We know that these high priority groups are at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19, and I therefore welcome the further advice from the JCVI and confirm Scotland will offer a further dose to these people from next month.
“Vaccination has been our most effective tool against coronavirus, and that will continue to be the case. I continue to encourage everyone to receive the doses they are eligible for as and when they become available.”
Deputy chief medical officer Professor Nicola Steedman said: “Our vaccination programme has been highly successful, with 85 per cent of the eligible population having had a booster or third dose vaccination and the World Health Organisation estimating some 28,000 lives saved to date in Scotland.
“However, the degree of protection offered by the vaccines wanes over time, which is why booster vaccination is needed to maintain the best protection against Covid-19 for those at highest risk of severe effects of the virus. The additional booster dose will improve your level of protection significantly and is the best way to protect your health and those around you.
“The primary aim of the Covid-19 vaccination programme continues to be the prevention of severe disease, hospitalisation and mortality, arising from Covid-19. I encourage anyone who is still to have any dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.”
