Unpaid carers are to be given the option of booking their own covid vaccination appointment from Monday amid concerns many may be slipping through the net.

The Scottish government says good progress is being made in reaching priority groups six and seven: people between 60 and 64 years old, and unpaid carers and people with particular underlying health conditions – regardless of their age.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the additional option:

“Unpaid carers who are not registered with the Scottish Social Services Council will be able to self-register for vaccination from next Monday onwards,” Ms Sturgeon said.

The Scottish government says that over the next few weeks the volume of vaccine available to Scotland is expected to increase and, if supplies allow, the vaccination infrastructure in Scotland can deliver around 400,000 vaccines a week from the end of the March.

The First Minister meanwhile confirmed that the process of scheduling appointments for people over 50 who haven’t already been vaccinated is to begin shortly.

“I should point out however that many in these age groups, 30% of 50 to 54-year-olds and 36% of 55 to 59-year-olds have already had the first dose due to having an underlying health condition.”

In a separate statement, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman added that she is confident that Scotland will be able to offer a first vaccination to all priority groups by the middle of April – and the remainder of the adult population by the end of July:

“The roll-out continues to deliver at pace, which is down to the enormous efforts of our vaccination teams. I would like to thank everyone who is working tirelessly to make this a success.

“When you are offered the vaccine please take up the invitation. The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow. All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”

Read more: Care group asked to re-think vaccinated-only visiting; Change to learning disability vaccine plans; Unpaid carers next in line for vaccinations

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