Oxford University covid vaccine to be administered in Scotland today

The first doses of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine are set to be administered in Scotland today.

Jabs will be delivered at some 730 vaccination sites already established across the UK, with others opening this week to take the total to more than 1,000, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The bulk of supplies will eventually be sent to hundreds of GP-led services and care homes later in the week for wider rollout, according to DHSC.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca jab is easier to transport and store than the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which needs cold storage of around minus 70C.

Because it can be stored at fridge temperatures, between two and eight degrees, it is easier to distribute to care homes and other locations across the UK.

Speaking on the role out of the new Oxford vaccine and it's roll out, Scottish secretary for health and sport Jean Freeman said: "It's much more transportable, we don't have to store it in very very low temperatures and what that means in essence is that we can distribute it through our GP practices and local community vaccine centres.

"If the Pfizer vaccine leaves the factory on a Tuesday can we be confident that three days later we will get our supply?

"That kind of predictability matters because that lets us plan ahead, booking people into their first appointments for the vaccine.

"The key for us is to make them as local as possible because if you can go locally to your pharmacy, or your GP practice, or a local organisation in your highstreet then it's easier for you to take up the vaccine, particularly in the older age group.

"The reason we can't be absolutely definite, for example to say to those over seventy 'we will get to you in X month, is because it's dependent on those supplies.

"I really don't want to give people dates but then the supplies don't match up with that and then we can't deliver it."

The UK has secured 100 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine as part of its contract, enough for most of the population.

While some 530,000 doses are to be available from Monday, DHSC said that tens of millions more are to be delivered in the coming weeks and months once batches have been quality checked.

It comes almost a month after rollout of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech began, with more than one million people having now received their first dose.

Second doses of either vaccine will now take place within 12 weeks rather than the 21 days that was initially planned with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, following a change in guidance which aims to accelerate immunisation.

This has been defended by the UK's four chief medical officers following criticism, including from the British Medical Association (BMA).

The doctors' union said it was grossly and patently unfair'' for at-risk patients whose imminent second jab appointments would now be rescheduled.

In line with recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), vaccination is being rolled out to priority groups including care home residents and staff, people over 80 and healthcare workers.

GPs and local vaccination services have been asked to ensure every care home resident in their local area is vaccinated by the end of January, according to DHSC.

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