SCOTLAND’S coronavirus vaccine roll-out “makes absolute sense”, according to a World Health Organisation special envoy on Covid-19.
Dr David Nabarro told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme that he is “glad” to see people in care homes, who are among the most at risk from the virus, being prioritised.
The Scottish Conservatives have been attacking the Holyrood Government in recent days, claiming Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK in its roll-out.
Speaking in the Parliament, the party’s group leader Ruth Davidson claimed vials of the vaccine are sitting unused.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon rejects Tory claims Scotland is lagging behind in jag roll-out
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there was a big difference in what had been allocated and what had been supplied, insisting the programme is not lagging and there has been a deliberate focus on elderly residents in care homes.
“Why did we do that? Because these are the people according to the [Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation], who are most vulnerable to becoming ill, and dying from Covid,” the First Minister told MSPs.
She explained that more than 90% of elderly care home residents have now had their first dose of the vaccine.
READ MORE: Douglas Ross's Tories 'twisting picture' of Covid vaccine roll-out in Scotland
Sturgeon added: “The reason why the overall numbers, therefore are lower at this stage is because of that focus in care homes, because it takes longer and is more labour intensive to vaccinate in care homes than it is in the community.”
Yesterday Patrick Harvie also accused Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross of trying to “twist the picture” of Scotland’s vaccine programme.
Dr Nabarro was asked if Scotland is getting it right on the BBC radio show this morning.
“In Scotland I’ve noticed that there have been concerns about high levels of sickness and unfortunately deaths in residential care facilities,” he told listeners
“It makes absolute sense to me to see the residential care sector as needing to be a priority for the residents and for the staff who work there as well.
“I’m glad that that’s the prioritisation that’s being done and I hope we continue to focus on the people who we know will be most at risk.”
Last year Dr Nabarro, who has previously worked with the UN and the WHO director-general, also praised Scotland’s approach to the pandemic.
He praised Sturgeon’s decision not to ease lockdown restrictions at the same time as England and said the country was “doing good” in its response.
READ MORE: WHO doctor says Scotland is 'doing good' in coronavirus response
Speaking to the BBC in May he said: "Comparing Scotland with other parts of Europe, other parts of the world, I'd say you're doing good because you are tackling it carefully and logically.
“You are thinking through how do we make sure people are safe and how do we make sure the economy can restart? And you are layering these two together.
"There are some countries which are saying it's either the economy or people's health and they are presenting it as a choice.
“It's not a choice. You are watching, learning, applying, coming to terms with it. And most importantly you are levelling with the people what the government is trying to work through."
According to the latest Scottish Government figures more than 300,000 people have now received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
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