Scottish Government apologises amid confusion over booster jags

The Scottish Government has apologised after members of the public seeking booster jabs were turned away from NHS vaccination sites.

On Tuesday, the UK Government’s Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) announced that patients need only wait three months after their second vaccination to get a booster jab, in response to new vaccine efficiency data and the discovery of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.

The JCVI has also said that all adults should get booster vaccinations, not just the over-40s as per the committee’s previous guidance.

But those going for boosters at some vaccination sites were told they needed to wait at least 24 weeks since their second jab.

The Scottish Government has now apologised after Labour called the booster rollout “a shambles”.

A government spokesperson said: “Following JCVI advice, clinical and legal guidance requires to be put in place for vaccination teams to implement the changes.  This has been progressed urgently and instructions have now issued to all health boards to vaccinate in line with the latest advice.     

“The new guidance is also being updated on the NHS Inform website.  

“We apologise to those people who have been keen to get their booster vaccination and attended before the necessary protocols were in place. Booster appointments are booked in advance via the portal, therefore the vast majority of appointments will not have been affected.”   

Scottish Labour’s Health and Covid Recovery spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “This is nothing short of a shambles.

“The need to accelerate our booster programme has never been greater, so we cannot have people being turned away.

“The change to JCVI guidance is clear, and all those eligible should be able to receive their booster as quickly as possible.”