Sturgeon urges over 30s to get booster jag as booking portal opens

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged all over-30s to get a booster jag, as the NHS booking portal opens.

All 30 to 39-year-olds will be able to book their appointment for a Covid-19 vaccine booster from Monday, in an expansion of Scotland’s vaccine booster programme.

Appointments must be booked at least 12 weeks after a second dose, however, anyone with a confirmed case of the virus since receiving a vaccine should wait four weeks from testing positive to receive their booster.

The online portal on the NHS Inform website will be extended to enable 18-29 year olds to book booster vaccinations later in the week.

The portal is already open to health and social care workers, the 40-59 age groups, unpaid carers who are 16 and over, and those aged 16 and over who are household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals and will continue to be available to these groups.

Anyone in earlier groups who missed their vaccination can book an appointment by calling the National Helpline on 0800 030 8013 which is open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

The First Minister said: “I can confirm that urgent work is underway to further accelerate roll out of the booster vaccination programme in Scotland.

“Scotland already has the highest proportion of the over 12 population protected with booster or third doses of all the UK nations. Now, however, urgent efforts are being made to step up the pace even further with the aim of offering a booster jag appointment to all eligible adults by the end of this year if possible.

“As an immediate first step, the NHS Inform booking portal will open to 30-39 year olds from 10am tomorrow morning and to 18-29 year olds later in the week. I will confirm further details of the accelerated roll-out to parliament on Tuesday.

“Getting booster jags into people’s arms as quickly as possible is essential given what we now know about Omicron and the importance of boosters in ensuring maximum protection against the new variant.

“Given the expected volume of cases in the weeks ahead, however, it is also possible that further, proportionate protective measures or advice will be necessary. This is true even if Omicron proves to be slightly less severe than Delta.

“The number of cases will still put significant pressure on the NHS and the economy. The government will therefore consider the latest data tomorrow ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and I will set out any decisions to parliament later that day.

“In the meantime, we are urging people to get vaccinated, test ahead of mixing with other households, work from home if possible, wear face coverings and follow all hygiene advice.

“We face, once again, a renewed challenge from Covid. By pulling together to protect ourselves and others, we will get through it.”

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Scotland already has the highest vaccination rate of all UK nations for first, second and third doses and we will continue to follow clinical advice from the JCVI on offering booster jags through age cohorts in descending order to ensure maximum benefit.

“We are working with Health Boards to maximise vaccination capacity and we’ll explore all options to accelerate the vaccination programme as quickly and safely as we possibly can.

“One of the most important things we can all do to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19 is to get our vaccinations and boosters when eligible. The vaccines we have are highly effective and safe and I urge anyone who is eligible and not yet vaccinated to book an appointment.

“The emergence of the Omicron variant means it is also particularly important that we continue to take all precautions to prevent transmission. So test regularly for the virus, particularly before socialising and meeting up with others from outside your household, wear face marks where required and open windows to improve ventilation.”