The SNP have failed to hit a key vaccine rollout target that Nicola Sturgeon called a “condition” to lifting most restrictions on 9 August.
SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf initially tried to claim on Good Morning Scotland that they were on track to meet the target before backtracking under questioning.
Nicola Sturgeon has also stated that it is a fact no vaccination targets have been missed, despite official figures proving otherwise.
She promised last month that all 40-49 year olds would be fully vaccinated by July 26. However, only 76.6 per cent of this cohort have currently received both doses.
The First Minister previously said that ensuring all over 40s are fully vaccinated would be a “gateway condition” to lifting almost all legal restrictions on 9 August.
Scottish Conservative analysis has found that the SNP are also likely to miss two further key vaccine targets over the next month.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Annie Wells MSP, said: “Nicola Sturgeon has broken her promise to have the whole 40-49 year old age group fully vaccinated on time.
“The SNP have fallen woefully short of a target they set themselves. As we’ve see so often in so many areas, they just don’t deliver.
“Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf are in denial. They are desperately trying to claim key vaccine targets have been met rather than face reality. They should be upfront about their failings instead of furiously spinning false figures.
“SNP Ministers need to get their act together and urgently up their game.
“The whole of Scotland and the UK’s vaccine scheme has been a huge success overall but in the final stages, the SNP have failed to reach young people by introducing a more targeted marketing campaign and increasing the availability of drop-in centres.
“Nicola Sturgeon previously said meeting this target was a “condition” to easing restrictions. The 9 August date that we all want to be met is looking shakier than ever now, all because the SNP became complacent and missed a crucial target.”
Notes: A transcript of Humza Yousaf’s interview with Gary Robertson on GMS is below:
Gary Robertson: Let's talk about the vaccination programme. Is the target to have completed second doses to all over 40s by today being missed?
Humza Yousaf: No, over 40s, we can say that 91% of over 40s have been fully vaccinated. You have to remember, Gary, this is a non-mandatory vaccine. To have 91% of over 40s fully vaccinated on a non-mandatory vaccine is quite astounding achievement and our vaccinators and all of those involved in the programme should be thanked for their efforts-
GR: Just to be clear, just to be clear: when that 91%. Sorry, that 91% figure, that's for first vaccines?
HY: No, no, no. For all over 40s. That was of course what was in the gateway condition.
GR: Fully vaccinated? Fully vaccinated?
HY: Fully vaccinated, yes absolutely, fully vaccinated with both doses. That's what was in the gateway condition. That was for everybody over 40. What you have done of course in your package is broke down between 40 to 49 year-olds, but actually everybody over 40, that was in the gateway condition, in terms of moving to beyond level 0 and 91% have been fully vaccinated. Anybody suggesting that is, as the opposition have done, humiliating or a failure? Well, I'm afraid that is just stupid.
GR: Well, what is the figure for 40 to 49-year-olds? Because the Scottish Government's own First Minister, the First Minister's update on the 22nd of June said by 26th of July we expect to have given second doses to all 40- to 49-year-olds. So, what is the figure then?
HY: 40 to 49-year-olds is the figure that you mentioned 76% that have been fully vaccinated. But of course, that is the point, we have offered all 40 to 49-year-olds the vaccine. We have given them a letter, an appointment, there have also been drop-ins, there has been mobile vaccination units. But of course, with any non-mandatory vaccine there is going to be people that don't take the vaccine. Now, I'd rather everybody did, but there are going to be people that don't. Now, that figure is the same as the Welsh figure. Wales have rightly been commended for what has been a phenomenal vaccination programme. It is in some respects actually higher than the English figure, the English figure for 40 to 45-year-olds is 70% and then the 40 to 44-year-olds is 70% and 45 to 49-year-olds is 76% which is exactly the same as our figure. So, look this is a situation that is common across the UK, that is as you go down the age cohorts and you get less of an uptake, and we all look to continue to try to increase the uptake figure right across the age ranges.
GR: But that statement from the First Minister on the 22nd of June said: "On balance, and assuming we meet the necessary conditions on vaccination and harm reduction, it is going to be possible and proportionate to lift the major remaining restrictions on the 9th of August." Is 76% of 40 to 49-year-olds enough in your view for us to lift all of those remaining restrictions on the 9th of August?
HY: So, is 91% of over 40s-
GR: But 76% of 40 to 49-year-olds is the figures you just gave us.
HY: My answer to that one is of course we want to continue to drive uptake, but I would be confident at this stage that we are able to move towards the target date of August the 9th. But the First Minister of course is going to update parliament on August 3rd, and it is appropriate that she gives the update. I wouldn't want to pre-empt it, but we are still confident that we will be able to move forward.
Scottish Conservative analysis released earlier today from July 25 figures shows two further vaccination targets will be missed:
Target 2- 20 August – all 30 to 39-year-olds will have had a second dose.
Current stats – 36.1 per cent of all 30-39 year old have had a second dose which is 263,572 people. (Tableau Public, 25 July 2021: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/phs.covid.19/viz/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview#!/vizhome/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview)
The previous day it was 257,760- daily rate of = 5,812
The most recent figures state there are 721,985 people aged 30-39 in Scotland (National Records of Scotland, Mid-2019 Population Estimates Scotland, Excel data Table 1, 30 April 2020, link).
26 days till target, with the current daily rate of 5,812 = 151,112
151,112 plus the 263,572 already done would equal 414,684 in total by 20 August, which is 307,301 short of the size of the population for this age group.
Target 3 - 12 September – full adult (second doses) population.
Current stats – 69.1 per cent of the population have had a second dose which is 3,069,203 people. (Tableau Public, 25 July 2021: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/phs.covid.19/viz/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview#!/vizhome/COVID-19DailyDashboard_15960160643010/Overview
Current daily rate for 2nd doses is 15,051
The most recent figures state there are 4,434,138 people aged 18 or over in Scotland (National Records of Scotland, Mid-2019 Population Estimates Scotland, Excel data Table 1, 30 April 2020, link).
49 days till target, with the current daily rate of 15,051 = 737,499
737,499 plus the 3,069,203 already done would equal 3,806,702 in total by 12 September, which is 627,436 short
Nicola Sturgeon’s statement is here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-update-first-ministers-statement-22-june-2021/