THE First Minister says it's a "fact" that her government has not missed a vaccination target by political opponents.
Opposition parties have attacked the Scottish Government over its pledge to give second doses to the 40-49 age group by today, when just 75.8% of those in that group are now fully covered.
Nicola Sturgeon said the target was to offer first doses, not provide them, by July 26. In a Covid-19 update to parliament she had said the Government "expected" to have given second doses to all people in that age group by that date.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf hits back at opposition 'mischief' over Scottish Covid vaccine target
Speaking at the Police Scotland training college in Tulliallan today, Sturgeon said: “I think it’s important we deal in facts and not in childish politics, which at this time is not what we should be doing.
“No vaccination target has been missed and that’s not an opinion, that’s a fact.
“What we set ourselves the target of was offering, by now, the first dose of the vaccine to every adult, everybody over the age of 18, and two doses to the over 40 age group.
“Those targets have been met, everybody in those age groups had those offers and appointments.
“Uptake rates are very high by the standards of any previous vaccination programme.”
For all people over the age of 40, 90.7% have been vaccinated with both doses, recent figures show.
The First Minister added: “This is a vaccination programme that is outstanding in its success – in the over-40s over 90% are fully vaccinated with two doses.
“But in this country vaccination is not compulsory, rightly in my view, and therefore we still have work to do.
“We’re encouraging those who’ve had an appointment for vaccination who haven’t come forward to now do so.”
Sturgeon’s comments come as her Health Secretary said he remained “confident” that further easing of restrictions would take place on August 9, despite the target being missed.
“The First Minister, of course, is going to update Parliament on August 3, and it is appropriate that she gives the update – I wouldn’t want to pre-empt it, but we’re still confident of being able to move forward,” Humza Yousaf told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme.
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He added: “We can say that 91% of over-40s have been fully vaccinated.
“You have to remember, this is a non-mandatory vaccine. To have 91% of over-40s vaccinated in a non-mandatory vaccine is quite simply an astounding achievement and our vaccinators and all those involved in the programme should be thanked for their efforts.
“Anybody suggesting, as the opposition have done, it is humiliating, or a failure, I’m afraid that’s just mischief.”
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