Maree Todd: Vaccine boosters offer best protection against Covid
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Holyrood Notebook by Maree Todd
The emergence of the new Omicron variant and its presence in the Highlands will no doubt be of concern to many of my constituents in Caithness.
While we know there is a degree of community transmission across Scotland already, there is still much to learn about the new variant, from its severity and transmissibility to its response to treatments and vaccines.
Omicron does not change the fact that vaccination is still our single biggest protection against this virus. Less effective does not mean ineffective – you stand more protected against the virus being fully vaccinated than you do without.
A recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation estimates that 27,656 people, who were aged 60 or older, have been saved in Scotland because of the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine from December 2020 to November this year. This study demonstrates the strong link between vaccination and the weakening of serious health harms.
With the JCVI recommending booster vaccines to anyone over the age of 18, it’s important that you come forward when called upon or when invited to book an appointment, to receive your booster dose.
Many will be outraged, like me, by the reports of blatant rule-breaking in Number 10 last Christmas. The reports of an alleged party – or parties even – and the leaked video footage of the Prime Minister’s advisors mocking the rules confirms the deep-rooted dishonesty and corruption at the core of the UK government.
Not only is this footage deeply offensive to those who followed the rules last Christmas and sacrificed precious moments with loved ones, but it also dangerously undermines public health guidance across the UK. With public confidence in the Prime Minister plummeting, it’s clear that Johnson is not fit to lead the country on one of the most important issues of our time.
Last week, my colleague Kate Forbes announced the Scottish Budget for 2022-23. It’s been a challenging budget due to the continuing impact of the pandemic, and the uncertainty and worry that Covid poses for us all. Adding to this, the UK government decided to remove necessary Covid consequential funding at a time when we undeniably need to help our public services. I was pleased, however, to see the Scottish Government take spending decisions that prioritise supporting people and our vital public services through the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
Key spending areas that will benefit many in my constituency include £197 million to double the Scottish Child Payment and extend it to under 16s, £145.5 million for the sustained employment of additional teachers and classroom assistants, £200 million to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap and £831 million for affordable housing.
Overall, this bold, ambitious and progressive Budget balances the immediate pressures with the long-term imperatives – tackling inequalities, securing a just transition to net zero and investing in economic recovery.
I was delighted to be invited to attend the opening of the redeveloped St Ola Pier last Friday. I’d like to thank the Scrabster Harbour Trust Board for all their hard work in bringing this project to fruition, the multi-purpose redeveloped pier targets growth in energy-related activity and allows the port to accommodate larger cruise vessels. It was great to see the finished product!
To finish my last column of 2021, I would like to wish everyone across the constituency a very merry Christmas and a happy new year when it comes.
- Maree Todd is the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
