DISRUPTION to medical supplies and potential coronavirus vaccines as a result of Brexit cannot be ruled out, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has said.

John Swinney said there was “deep anxiety” about the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 and the potential impact on supplies of both items.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Thursday he is “confident” a No-Deal Brexit will not delay supplies and stressed that contingency measures were also in place.

The Pfizer vaccine, which the drugs company announced is 90% successful at preventing Covid-19, is being manufactured in Belgium.

Swinney was asked about the potential for disruption at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing yesterday.

He said: “We have seen the developments of the arrangements that are in place to deal with the consequences of Brexit but none of us are certain about what those arrangements will be.

“So I think the honest answer to your question is there must be anxiety that there is the potential for disruption to medical supplies as a consequence of Brexit.

“That was one of the critical risks that the Scottish Government identified when we looked at the possibility of a No-Deal Brexit scenario.”

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Swinney said work has since been done on how supplies can be maintained but it is “really damaging” to be leaving the EU during the pandemic.

“There is deep anxiety within the Government about those questions,” he added.

“We hope to avoid any of these examples and we will work to make sure that is the case.

“But I certainly can’t say to you in all honesty today that I don’t think there’s a possibility there could be disruption to either medical supplies or vaccine supplies as a consequence of Brexit – but we will do everything in our power to avoid that happening.”

On Thursday night, Hancock said the UK could fly in vaccine supplies to avoid any issues around border checks. The Health Secretary told BBC Question Time: “We have a plan for the vaccine which is being manufactured in Belgium and if necessary we can fly in order to avoid those problems.

“We’ve got a plan for all eventualities.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ruled out any impact saying there is a “back-up to the back-up” to prevent any hitches.

But his pledge follows his colleague Business Secretary Alok Sharma’s failure to allay concerns about the possibility of problems hitting the supply of the vaccine.

Sharma was asked multiple times at an earlier Downing Street press briefing if he could “categorically” say Brexit disruption would not impact vaccine supply – he did not give a direct answer. It comes after concerns were voiced about the delivery of the Belgium-manufactured jab – with worries it could be affected if the Government fails to get a trade deal with the EU.