500k Vaccine Shortfall

Sturgeon says country is on track to meet targets as she admits doses will plummet

- Chris McCall

Scotland’s Covid-19 vaccine supply will plummet by 500,000 doses next month, Nicola Sturgeon has revealed.

But the First Minister insisted yesterday the country remains on track to meet its targets.

UK health secretary Matt Hancock – who is ultimately responsible for ordering supplies – has faced calls to explain the reduction in incoming vaccines from the end of March.

The Tory minister has said the problem is partly due to a delay in a delivery of fie million AstraZeneca doses from the firm’s plant in India.

Addressing the shortfall, Sturgeon said she has had talks with representatives producing the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

She said: “At present, we expect that over the next month we will have approximately 500,000 fewer doses than we had previously anticipated.

“For that reason, there may be periods in April where we need to prioritise second doses. However, we do still expect to offer a first dose of the vaccine to the remaining JCVI priority groups by the middle of next month as planned.