By Democrat reporter
Jackie Baillie, the Labour candidate in Dumbarton constituency, has raised concerns about a regional variation in the vaccine roll-out, after figures revealed huge disparities in the vaccination rates between councils.
West Dunbartonshire Council’s figures are below the national average for both 55-59 year olds and 50-54 year olds with just 76.9% and 42.8% having been vaccinated respectively. The national average for 55-59 year olds is 85.5% and 63% for 50-54 year olds.
However, Argyll and Bute Council, which includes Cardross, Helensburgh and Garelochside, has surpassed the national average for both age groups with 90.8% of 55-59 year olds and 83% of 50-54 year olds having received a vaccine.
The figures also revealed challenges in Scotland’s biggest cities, with the proportion of 50-54 year olds vaccinated in Edinburgh and Glasgow well below the national average. Across Scotland 63.0% of 50-54 year olds have been vaccinated, while the figure in Edinburgh is just 40.6%, and in Glasgow is 47.1%.
Scottish Labour’s spokesperson for Health and Social Care Jackie Baillie said: “While the vaccine programme is going well overall, these are alarming figures. We cannot have a postcode lottery with something as crucial as a life-saving vaccine.
“Vaccination teams across the country are working tirelessly to deliver the programme, but we must ensure that all Health Boards have the vaccine supply and resources they need.
“With the target for vaccinating everyone over 50 fast approaching, the SNP need to get moving quickly to ensure no areas are left behind.”
Vaccination Programme Local Authority breakdown as of 1 April:
| 55-59 | Over 50-54 | |
| East Renfrewshire Council | 43.5 | 37.2 |
| Scottish Borders Council | 45.0 | 38.2 |
| Inverclyde Council | 49.9 | 40.7 |
| East Dunbartonshire Council | 65.4 | 38.7 |
| Glasgow City Council | 68.0 | 47.1 |
| Renfrewshire Council | 68.2 | 40.8 |
| Highland Council | 74.7 | 54.6 |
| West Dunbartonshire Council | 76.9 | 42.8 |
| Midlothian Council | 79.3 | 40.8 |
| South Ayrshire Council | 81.1 | 77.7 |
| West Lothian Council | 86.8 | 41.8 |
| Aberdeen City Council | 90.2 | 49.2 |
| Argyll and Bute Council | 90.8 | 83.0 |
| City of Edinburgh Council | 91.6 | 40.6 |
| Aberdeenshire Council | 92.0 | 59.0 |
| Moray Council | 92.4 | 73.8 |
| Dundee City Council | 93.3 | 82.8 |
| Angus Council | 93.4 | 61.8 |
| Shetland Islands Council | 93.7 | 90.3 |
| Orkney Islands Council | 94.5 | 88.2 |
| East Ayrshire Council | 94.7 | 61.9 |
| Perth and Kinross Council | 94.8 | 61.0 |
| North Ayrshire Council | 95.1 | 47.6 |
| Western Isles | 95.3 | 91.8 |
| Dumfries and Galloway Council | 95.5 | 85.1 |
| South Lanarkshire Council | 96.0 | 93.4 |
| East Lothian Council | 96.1 | 39.0 |
| Fife Council | 96.4 | 89.2 |
| Falkirk Council | 97.1 | 90.1 |
| North Lanarkshire Council | 97.4 | 90.8 |
| Clackmannanshire Council | 97.6 | 92.9 |
| Stirling Council | 97.7 | 91.3 |
| Scotland | 85.5 | 63.0 |
The deadline for vaccinating over 50s is mid-April, so 15/16 April.
On Monday 29th there were 1,002,010 unused vaccine doses, 515,140 of which had not been delivered.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-trends-in-daily-data/
