FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has volunteered to help out at a vaccination centre over the festive period in an effort to get as many booster jags to Scots as possible.
The booster roll-out has been expanded in recent days as scientists say the third dose will offer much stronger protection against the new fast-spreading Omicron variant. Some 80,000 jags will be needed every day to tackle the spread, MSPs were told.
One hundred extra members of the armed forces have been drafted in to help accelerate the booster vaccine rollout, which brings the total number of military personnel assisting in the programme to 221.
READ MORE: Scotland's Omicron guidance 'much clearer' than UK's, says health expert Andrew Hayward
The Scottish Government is seeking venues to use as drop-in vaccination centres and people will no longer be required to wait for 15 minutes after their vaccination to cut queues.
Hampden Park and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre have also been announced as new mass-vaccination centres to facilitate the scheme’s expansion.
It emerged that as Scotland prepares for the latest major challenge posed by Covid, the First Minister has offered her assistance during Holyrood’s Christmas recess – and she won’t be the only Cabinet member getting involved.
A Scottish Government spokesperson told the Scottish Daily Mail: “Ministers, including the First Minister, have volunteered to help and appropriate arrangements are currently being made.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf (above) also called on those eligible to register for their booster jag.
“Get that booster, it can protect you, it can protect your family and it can also help us with the pressures we are facing with the NHS,” he said.
He insisted ministers are “doing everything we possibly can” to hit the target of having 80% of eligible adults boosted by the end of the year, with the remaining injections to be completed shortly after this.
READ MORE: Omicron: Tory MP Joy Morrissey deletes tweet after attacking Chris Whitty
Health boards are considering extending opening hours for vaccine clinics, Yousaf said, though he added jabs will not be given on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
“We’re throwing everything, the kitchen sink, plus more at this,” Yousaf said.
“We’re really determined and it is going well, we are leading other UK nations – not by a fraction but by quite a distance.
“We’re making good progress in Scotland, but I need us and I want us and I will ensure we go even faster than we’re going at the moment.”
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