A THIRD of Scotland’s adult population have been given a coronavirus vaccine, with more than 1.5 million jags administered, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Speaking to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, the First Minister said 1,515,980 people in Scotland have received their first dose.
“The fact that more than one and a half million people have now received the first dose of vaccination is, I think, a really significant milestone,” she said.
“We’ve now given a first dose to almost exactly one third of the adult population and that includes virtually everyone in the top four clinical priority groups recommended by the JCVI.”
Wales became the first UK nation to administer a first dose to the equivalent of a third of its adult population on Friday.
At that time, the figure was 32.1% in England and 31.3% in Scotland, with today's figures for Northern Ireland at 29.4%.
Sturgeon added that 85% of 65 to 69-year-olds have received a first dose, with the Scottish Government on course to meet its target of offering a vaccine to everyone in this group by late March.
First doses will be offered to everyone over 50 and those with underlying health conditions by April 15, she said.
During the update, the First Minister also gave the latest Covid-19 statistics for Scotland. She said Scotland has recorded 31 deaths from coronavirus and 769 positive tests in the past 24 hours.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon coronavirus update: FM announces another 31 deaths
It brings the death toll under this measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – to 7084.
Sturgeon said 200,406 people have now tested positive in Scotland, up from 199,637 the previous day.
There are 967 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, down 51 in 24 hours, and 89 patients are in intensive care, down four.
READ MORE: Scottish jag strategy proved right as care home deaths fall faster than England
The update came as new analysis showed the Scottish Government’s cautious handling of the pandemic and management of restrictions has led to lower deaths and infections than south of the Border.
The Financial Times piece also looked at death rates in care homes across England and Scotland. It finds that excess deaths have fallen significantly faster in homes in Scotland, where the Government made vaccinating their residents a priority.
Yesterday, the First Minister announced that care home deaths have fallen by 69% in the past four weeks.
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