Scotland’s Covid vaccination programme reached a new milestone yesterday when the number of first doses delivered passed the three million mark.
That means two thirds of the eligible population have been at least partly immunised, with the 66.6% mark crossed on Friday, said the Scottish Government.
Nearly 1.6 million people have had both shots of the vaccine, it added.
Nataliya Dasiukevich, from Milngavie, received her first dose on the landmark day.
The 45-year-old, who was vaccinated at Allander Leisure Centre in Bearsden, said: “I hope it encourages everyone in my age group to take up the jab as it is only by doing so and following restrictions that we can start to think about a return to normal life.”
The vaccination programme is now moving through those aged 40 to 49, and more than half of people in this age group have come forward to receive their first dose.
It means Scotland is on course to offer all adults a first vaccine by the end of July, if supplies are maintained.
Chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith 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.
“It is great news that more than half of 40 to 49-year-olds have now come forward and had their vaccine.”
© SYSTEMMost of the country will drop to Level 2 restrictions from Monday, with the exception of Glasgow and Moray, where experts are monitoring outbreaks of coronavirus cases.
Scotland’s largest city and Moray, in the north east, will remain under more stringent rules for at least another week.
Vaccine 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.
Dr Smith added: “If the situation changes the advice is that vaccination of adults aged 30 to 39 years with any of the UK authorised vaccines is always better than no vaccination, except where there are specific medical reasons for not doing so.”
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, while the test positivity rate stood at 1.6%.
A total of 3,003,339 people have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 1,599,519 have received their second dose.
1/ If you live in – or have recently spent time in – the Southside of Glasgow, PLEASE help get this outbreak under control by taking a test. I’ve just done so myself – thankfully negative! In this thread, I’ll post some useful links about where to access tests and what to do. pic.twitter.com/RZgujZGKuz
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 15, 2021
On Saturday, Nicola Sturgeon urged people in the southside of Glasgow to take a test to help track the outbreak there.
The First Minister, who is the MSP for Glasgow Southside, tweeted a picture of her own negative coronavirus test and listed local testing centres.
She said: “If you live in – or have recently spent time in – the Southside of Glasgow, please help get this outbreak under control by taking a test. I’ve just done so myself – thankfully negative!”
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