THE BOOSTER JAB SHAMBLES

Hundreds turned away from Scots vaccine centres ++ Staff can’t cope with surge in bookings ++ New guidance as ministers apologise for blunder ++

SCOTLAND’s booster rollout was branded a ‘shambles’ last night after hundreds of people with appointments for a third jab were turned away from vaccine centres.

A series of sites ignored guidance given 24 hours earlier and refused to vaccinate people who had received their second dose less than six months ago.

Even those who took Nicola Sturgeon’s personal advice and brought forward appointments through an online portal were turned away when they arrived for their new slot.

Health boards operating drop-in centres also insisted that only those who received their second dose 24 weeks ago would be able to get the booster.

This is despite guidance changes in response to the arrival in Scotland of the Omicron variant, allowing people to get a booster three months after their second jab.

The Scottish Government last night issued an apology for the chaos and insisted that it has now instructed all health boards to follow the new approach.

But SNP ministers also failed to provide any details yesterday of how they plan to ramp

up the booster rollout, despite announcing they ‘aim’ to ensure all eligible adults receive it by the end of January.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘This is nothing short of a shambles. The need to accelerate our booster programme has never been greater, so we cannot have people being turned away.

‘The change to JcVI [Joint committee on Vaccination and Immunisation] guidance is clear and all those eligible should be able to receive their booster as quickly as possible.’

Several people told the Mail they had been turned away from a vaccination centre at Glasgow’s central Mosque despite having appointments.

Journalist Andrew Learmonth said he was among those affected although he had made a booking and was eligible under the JcVI guidance. He said the health board was ‘not letting anyone in unless there’s 24 weeks between second jab and booster appointment’.

Peter McKeown, 43, said: ‘I came here but didn’t get given the vaccine because they haven’t brought in the threemonth rule.’

David roberts, 40, said: ‘Some are getting turned away for coming too early. It is confusing quite a few people.’

nHS Greater Glasgow and clyde said: ‘We are sorry that some people have not been able to access their booster vaccination, but our teams must work within current national guidelines.

‘As changes to these guidelines were made today, it is imperative we are able to review the associated, detailed documentation, assess the requirements and identify any necessary operational changes, which will be implemented by our teams at the earliest possible opportunity.’

nHS forth Valley issued a statement advising people not to book boosters unless they had the second dose six months ago. It said: ‘The JcVI has recently advised that the time between second and booster doses should be reduced to 12 weeks, work is under way to implement this.

‘In the meantime, please continue to book boosters no earlier than 24 weeks since your second dose.’ nHS Tayside said: ‘We are awaiting further information on when the gap between second and booster jabs will be reduced to three months.

‘In the meantime please continue to book your booster a minimum of 24 weeks since your second dose.’

It also confirmed boosters were only available at drop-in clinics for people over the age of 50 or in the ‘at risk’ groups.

Scottish conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said patients were ‘rightly frustrated and connew fused’ over mixed messages from the SnP Government on booster vaccine eligibility.’

He added: ‘no one who is eligible to get their booster jag under current guidance should be turned away from vaccination clinics.’

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex cole-Hamilton said: ‘Scotland is packed full of thoughtful and conscientious people who want to get their booster jab as swiftly as possible. It’s frustrating for them to hear boosters can now be booked only to turn up and discover the Health Secretary [Humza Yousaf] hasn’t sorted the logistics out.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘following JcVI advice, clinical and legal

‘Frustrated and confused’

guidance requires to be put in place for vaccination teams to implement the changes.

‘This has been progressed urgently and instructions have now been issued to all health boards to vaccinate in line with the latest advice.’

He added: ‘We apologise to those people who have been keen to get their booster and attended before the necessary protocols were in place.’

Mr Yousaf said on Tuesday the nHS Inform online portal had been updated to allow earlier bookings and encouraged them to do so. Miss Sturgeon told MSPs: ‘I’ve now been able to go online and book an earlier appointment.’