Covid Helensburgh: Jackie Baillie MSP says booster jag is 'postcode lottery'

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There is one issue that I have been contacted about by Helensburgh and Lomond residents more than any other in the last few weeks – and that’s the Covid-19 booster vaccine programme.

Our hardworking GPs were responsible for managing the roll out of the first and second doses of the Covid vaccine to the majority of the adult population in Helensburgh and Lomond. My thanks, as ever, go to them and to all those who are still working around the clock to keep us protected.

My thanks also go to the staff who are delivering booster vaccinations locally on behalf of the Argyll and Bute health and social care partnership.

Despite the organisational difficulties, they are doing a tremendous job in getting the boosters into our arms.

First and second doses of the Covid vaccine were administered in Helensburgh and Lomond by staff from local GP practices

In parts of the country, the booster programme is well under way, with many people being given their booster dose when they are due to receive it – that’s the six-month gap recommended by the JCVI between your second vaccination and the booster.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a real postcode lottery in delivery of the programme, with many older people in Helensburgh and Lomond being left waiting far longer than they should for their booster. This is in contrast to the vaccinations delivered by our GPs.

The problem is the GP contract agreed by the Scottish Government some time ago that will see responsibility for vaccinations taken from GPs and passed to health boards.

This comes into effect from April next year, albeit that some health boards have already moved to the new model of delivery.

Argyll and Bute's HSCP has taken the roll-out of the Covid booster vaccination programme in-house

I have been raising the problems locally with the chief executive of Argyll and Bute’s health and social care partnership, with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and with the First Minister.

Slowly but surely, local boosters are starting to be administered but I encourage anyone who is due their jab but has not yet received it to get in touch with my office – I am here to help.

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Last Tuesday the First Minister announced she would not be proceeding with any expansion of the country’s vaccine passports scheme.

We need to do everything we can to keep each other safe but expanding the scheme would have had quite an impact on local restaurant owners, cafes and pubs.

Vaccine passports will not yet be required in pubs, bars and restaurants in Scotland

The festive season is the busiest time of the year for the hospitality industry, and passport checks would have created significant additional pressure on them.

Vaccine passports alone will not stop the spread of Covid, which is why I have been calling for the production of a negative test to be used instead, especially for those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.