ARE WE NOW ON COURSE FOR AN EARLY RELEASE?

As over-40s are set to get the jab as early as April...

SCOTS under the age of 50 could be receiving Covid jabs by early April, it emerged yesterday.

SNP ministers have indicated they are likely to follow expert advice that the over-40 group gets the vaccine sooner than expected.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is set to give its long-awaited recommendations on the next priority groups next week.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney yesterday pointed out that the Scottish Government has accepted its recommendations for 30 years.

There are fewer than two million in the initial priority groups – those 50 and older – waiting for a first dose. If the rollout continues at the same pace as in the last full week, when the average daily rate was 50,993 doses, it will take 39 days to complete the initial priority groups, with a completion date of March 29.

Even at the slower pace seen this week due to temporary supply issues, the over-50s would still be vaccinated by April 24.

It means the programme is well on course to finish priority groups much faster than the initial target of early May – which will fuel calls for an earlier easing of key lockdown restrictions.

The Mail revealed yesterday that the JCVI is to recommend the rollout proceeds on the basis of age.

Asked if he would follow its recommendations, Mr Swinney said: ‘In England and Wales there is a statutory obligation on the Government to follow what the JCVI puts forward.

‘In Scotland we do not carry that statutory obligation but we have, in all circumstances for I think the last 30 years, followed the guidance given by the JCVI on vaccination and immunisation issues.’

Highlighting that vaccinations have this week halved to around 30,000 a day due to temporary issues with manufacturer Pfizer, Mr Swinney said supply was the ‘key issue’ on whether all over-50s can get a first dose by early April.

He added: ‘We’ve demonstrated we can deliver a comprehensive vaccination programme on a daily basis in Scotland – there were some days last week where we were vaccinating more than 1 per cent of the entire population of the country in one day.

‘So we can administer a big, big programme. The key question is, do we have enough vaccine supply to enable us to do that?

‘The manufacturers are working very hard to get that supply to us.

‘As soon as we get the supply we will administer the supply.

‘As things stand just now, we have no reason to believe that we can accelerate the programme and timetable we have set out, but obviously we come into this programme, as we have demonstrated, with a willingness to complete the programme as quickly as we possibly can do, and that will be a priority for the Government.’

Professor Jason Leitch, the Scottish Government’s national clinical director, has indicated that he will advise ministers to follow the JCVI guidelines. But UK and Scottish Government ministers will be able to decide whether to put any additional groups, such as police officers and teachers, to the front of the queue.

Any faster rollout will add to calls to move more quickly on lifting the country out of lockdown.

Earlier this week, First Minister said the first clear evidence had shown that deaths among care home residents and those over the age of 85 have slowed following the rollout of the vaccine.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, a member of her Covid advisory group, has backed lifting lockdown restrictions earlier.

He told MPs on Wednesday: ‘If you’re driven by the data and not by dates, right now, you should be looking at earlier unlocking.’

Dr Gregor Smith, the acting chief medical officer, said: ‘I expect to see the advice that will come in the very near future in relation to how we should progress.’

‘As quickly as we possibly can’

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