TWO-THIRDS of adults in Scotland have now had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, it was revealed yesterday.
Figures from the Scottish Government show first jags have been administered to more than three million people.
The 66.6% mark was crossed on Friday and nearly 1.6 million people have had both shots of the vaccine.
The national vaccine programme is currently inoculating people aged between 40 and 49, more than half of whom have had their first dose.
Scotland is on course to offer all adults a first vaccine by the end of July, if supplies are maintained.
Most of the country will drop to Level Two restrictions from tomorrow, except Glasgow and Moray.
Experts are monitoring outbreaks of coronavirus cases in these areas amid concerns over the Indian variant of the virus, which scientists believe could be 50% more transmissible than the Kent strain.
Yesterday it was reported there are six patients in Scotland who have had at least one dose of the vaccine being treated for complications believed to be linked to this variant.
Glasgow and Moray will remain under more stringent rules for at least another week.
Chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith said the milestone is down to the “enormous efforts” of vaccination teams.
He said: “The vaccination programme is one of the main ways – along with restrictions and testing – that we are working to beat this virus and so it is crucial that everyone attends for their appointments when they are offered.”
Appointments are now being scheduled for people in their 30s, who will be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine when it is appropriate to do so, the Scottish Government said.
The milestone in the vaccination programme comes as Scotland recorded 413 new cases of coronavirus in the daily figures.
However, the numbers have been affected by a data issue which meant Friday’s figures were lower than they should have been, with the missing cases added to Saturday’s total.
No new deaths were reported, and the test positivity rate was 1.6%.
In England, ministers are pushing on with a major easing of restrictions tomorrow despite concerns over the Indian variant – and faced criticism for allowing the strain’s import.
Boris Johnson was sticking by plans to allow mixing indoors and greater physical contact in England.
India was not added to the travel red-list – requiring quarantine in a Government-sanctioned hotel – until April 23, with the move announced four days earlier.
Yvette Cooper, chair of the Commons home affairs committee, said thousands had already returned from India bringing in new variant cases by that time.
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