WATCH: NHS Lothian changes EICC vaccine "wastage" policy

Changes have been made to vaccinations at Edinburgh International Conference Centre after concerns about wastage.

It's claimed vaccinators had been told to throw away unused doses of vaccine at the end of their shifts at the mass coronavirus vaccination centre.

NHS Lothian says it's changed the policy and now 'staff know they are not expected to discard any vaccine unnecessarily.'

"There was an issue raised internally at the EICC - dealt with very appropriately by NHS Lothian - procedures changed; less wastage" - JASON LEITCH

The health board's rate of wastage is thought to be around double the national average.

Opposition politicans have described the previous situation as 'unacceptable.'

Earlier, the national clinical director said concerns raised by staff at the large-scale facility were down to "teething" problems, and professor Jason Leitch insisted there is no systematic issue with wastage.

He said: "There was an issue raised internally at the EICC - dealt with very appropriately by NHS Lothian - procedures changed; less wastage, and that's exactly the kind of learning you would expect to happen inside any system of this size.

"That conference centre only opened four or five days ago, so there will of course be teething challenges as you move the vaccine around the units."

Everyone over-80 should have received their first coronavirus jag by today, but Nicola Sturgeon’s already said sorry to some older people still waiting for appointments.

Earlier, a senior Scottish Government adviser said injections for people over the age of 80 would be given "as far as absolutely possible" within ScotGov's target time.

Oliver Woodburn, 79, and his 77-year-old wife have appointments to be inoculated on Saturday. Mr Woodburn said: "We feel delighted and glad that we've not been forgotten. We've seen there's many people been forgotten and haven't had their appointments - some are 95/96 which I think is a disgrace.

"They should be making sure that everybody in the groups that they said they would do are done.

"They are the most vulnerable. They are the oldest. Statistics show that they are the people who are dying because of COVID.

"They should be protected, and the government should make sure, and the health secretary should make sure, and the Lothian health board should make sure."

Olive's partner, Pat added: "I feel very sad about the poor people who haven't had their letters or phone calls to arrange their vaccinations - especially the people who are older than I am.

"It's a terrible worry for them."

National clinical director, professor Jason Leitch said more of this age group had now been vaccinated than he had ever expected.

By 0830am on Friday, a total of 92-per-cent of those aged over 80 living in the community had been given their first dose of coronavirus vaccine, Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed.

Ministers had set the target of having all those within this age group having received their initial injection by the end of this week.

Speaking at the government's regular coronavirus briefing, Mr Swinney said the uptake so far had been "really quite extraordinary."

He compared the performance against the flu vaccine - where 79-per-cent of those aged 65 and above received the jag, ahead of the 75-per-cent target.

And Mr Swinney said: "We're way above that in the effectiveness of the vaccination programme with the over-80s."

He said that there would be some people who could not be vaccinated for clinical reasons, and added that others would be getting their first injection on Friday - although he said it "takes time" to get out to those elderly people who are house-bound.

But he said: "I think the performance on over-80s is tremendously reassuring, and it is indicative of the breadth and the depth of the vaccination programme around the country."

Professor Leitch added: "The over-80s will be completed as far as absolutely possible by the end of today."

The public health expert said: "If you had told me we would do 92-per-cent three months ago I would have said that was it complete. But the take-up has been so good now we want to get that even higher.

"I didn't think nine out of 10 over-80s would take this COVID vaccine.

"I think it is testament principally to that over 80s group but also their relatives, their carers and to those vaccination teams."

He also urged anyone aged 80 and above who wants to be vaccinated but who does not yet have a date for this, to contact their GP practice.