First coronavirus vaccine arrives in Scotland

The first coronavirus vaccine has arrived in Scotland, the health secretary has said.

The vaccination programme will begin on Tuesday, with those who will be administering the jab first in line.

Health and social care workers will be next in the queue, with those in care homes to be vaccinated from Monday, December 14.

Jeane Freeman said: “I am pleased to announce that the vaccine is now in Scotland and being stored safely in order for vaccinations to begin on Tuesday.

“Science has given us hope and we are starting on a journey which will eventually allow us to escape this terrible virus.

“Following clinical advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) we will begin with those groups which have been prioritised to address 99 per cent of preventable deaths associated with Covid-19.

“These include the elderly, care home residents and staff, and frontline health and social care workers.

“I ask everyone to be patient as we work through these groups as vaccine supply allows.”

The vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech was approved in the UK earlier this week and has been shown to be 95% effective.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted on Saturday: “Some positive news – initial supplies of the Covid vaccine have now arrived safely in Scotland and are being stored securely.

“The first vaccinations are on track to be administered on Tuesday.”

It comes as the Scottish Government confirmed another 22 people with coronavirus have died in Scotland.

It brings the death toll under the measure of people who first tested positive within the previous 28 days to 3911.

A total of 777 new cases of the virus were also recorded overnight.