One million people in Scotland receive first dose of COVID vaccine

One million people in Scotland have now had their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

The "important milestone" in the country's fight against COVID was hit on Wednesday.

More than a fifth of the 4.5 million Scots who will be offered the vaccine have had the first jag.

The vaccination programme, which started in December, is currently moving through the 70 to 79 age group.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "This is an important milestone in the biggest vaccination programme ever delivered in Scotland and I would like to thank everyone involved and all those who have taken up their offer of a vaccine.

"We have now given first doses to more than a million people in the groups which were prioritised to address 99 per cent of preventable deaths associated with COVID-19.

"These include elderly care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care workers and those who are at risk of serious harm and death from this virus.

"Scotland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is delivering ahead of our expectations. Our aim is to vaccinate as many people as possible with both their first and second doses as quickly as possible but the speed at which we can do this depends on supply and we expect a dip in supplies UK wide towards the end of this month.

"We hope to see a significant drop in the disease due to the vaccination programme, however this will take a number of months to evaluate fully."

Freeman had previously recognised Scotland needed to "vaccinate faster" after the Scottish Government was criticised for "lagging behind" its UK counterparts.

However, the programme has ramped up since the opening of mass vaccination centres in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, which joined the centre at the NHS Louisa Jordan in Glasgow.

Following the confirmation Scotland had passed the one million mark for first doses, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Thanks to teams across the country delivering the jags, and to everyone who has rolled up their sleeve.

"There’s still a way to go, but together we can beat this virus. Let’s stick with it."