Health Secretary defends 8 week gap between vaccine doses

Humza Yousaf insists the Scottish Government is following expert advice despite Northern Ireland moving to 6 weeks between Pfizer jags

The Health Secretary says the Scottish Government would consider shortening the gap between vaccine doses, but only if recommended by experts.

There have been calls for the 8-week period between first and second jags to be reduced to speed up the vaccination programme.

Humza Yousaf insists that’s not possible at this stage:

“Everybody who is getting a first dose at the moment and currently scheduled for a second dose 8 weeks after their first, and that is based on the JCVI, the experts in vaccinations and immunisations, and they recommend that 8 week gap.”

“Of course, if they recommend shortening that gap, that’s something we would absolutely consider. But at the moment, they say for maximum protection for as long as possible, keep that gap 8 weeks.”

He has been facing calls to speed up the roll-out of second doses after Northern Ireland announced people can get a second Pfizer jag after just 6 weeks.

Scottish Labour’s Health Spokesperson Jackie Baillie says Scotland should follow:

“This proves that we can speed up vaccination when needed - the SNP are simply choosing not to act."

"Given Scotland has the highest rates of Covid in the UK we should really be leading the way on this.”

She believes the decision to stick with 8 weeks is political:

“The evidence is piling up by the day on how effective double vaccination is against the Delta variant, but we are still dragging our feet and against the recommendations of the WHO at that."

"The science is there and so are the vaccine stocks, all that is missing is the political will.”

Responding to Northern Ireland’s decision, the Health Secretary told us:

“I’m not sure why Northern Ireland have interpreted the advice the way they have and that’s ultimately up to Northern Ireland, that’s the beauty of devolution."

"You will note the other nations have chosen not to do that because our interpretation is, and the clinical advice I receive says, we should be listening to the JCVI advice.”

And he added:

“I am always having regular four nation calls and I’ll be interested to hear the Northern Irish colleague’s logic for this, but we will be sticking to our interpretation of the JCVI advice which is a strict 8 weeks.”

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