Scottish Health Secretary praises emotional #MeetTheVaccinators Covid stories
We show Humza Yousaf the videos of the vaccinators' stories
Scotland's Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, says our #MeetTheVaccinators features telling the stories of the people who've helped deliver millions of injections to beat the coronavirus pandemic left him with a lump in his throat.
In the last six months an army of vaccinators have given out more doses than there are people in Scotland.
All week we’ve been the stories of those responsible for delivering the programme.
Humza Yousaf told Clyde 1 News: "When I had my first jab I got to talk to my vaccinator - her name was Louise - and she had come out of retirement.
"She was one of many thousands who have done likewise.
"Unfortunately she has lost someone close to her because of Covid and that's pushed her to become a vaccinator.
"I watched your video and genuinely had a lump in my throat. I thought it was extremely emotional.
"I think history will look back on the vaccinators and judge them, quite rightly, with great kindness, and will herald their efforts as crucial to getting us back to some sort of normality."
Vaccinator Andrew's story
61-year-old Andrew Swanson from Dreghorn is a retired mental health professional and told us it was a chance to be part of history: "I really wanted to be part of what is happening just now and being able to take a small part in supporting a vaccination programme was something which excited me.
"The whole ambience with the vaccination centres is really something quite incredible."
#MeetTheVaccinators: The stats
Scotland has thousands of vaccinators working all day, everyday to hand out vaccines at 1,100 hubs across the country.
So far, more than 6million jabs have been administered in total, made up of 3.6million first doses and 2.5million second doses.
What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.
What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.
What is the Moderna vaccine?
The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.
What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.
Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."
Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?
Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.
When will I receive the vaccine?
Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.
How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?
When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.
What is a vaccine passport?
The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.
Do I need a booster jab?
Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.
Will children be vaccinated?
The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.
What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?
All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.
Last week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed everyone over the age of 18 will have had a first dose by 18th July and by 12th September - supplies permitting - everyone over the age of 18 will also have had a second dose.
All this week, we're using the hashtag #MeetTheVaccinators to celebrate their achievements and share their stories as we make the push for full vaccination, and the end of lockdown.