By Steph Brawn and Tommy Lumby
The British Society for Immunology says UK governments must redouble their efforts to reach adults who are still not jabbed against Covid-19.
Around 13,000 people aged 16 and over in Renfrewshire have still not had a single jag, according to fresh statistics.
That compares to roughly 8,000 children aged 12 to 15 in the area who are now set to be offered a coronavirus vaccine.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today one dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be offered to children in this age group with drop-in clinics open to them from Monday, September 20.
UK Government data shows 135,824 people aged 16 and over across Renfrewshire had received their first vaccine by September 5 which leaves 13,384 people in the age group who remain completely unvaccinated, according to the Office for National Statistics population estimates which will include people who are medically exempt.
That’s well above the estimated 7,782 children aged 12 to 15 in the region, though this will include some with serious underlying health conditions who can already get jabbed.
The latest figures were analysed by the Reach Data Unit.
Dr Doug Brown, chief executive of the British Society for Immunology, said there was much more work to be done in urging people to get an injection against the potentially deadly disease.
He said: “We know more than one in 10 eligible adults have yet to come forward for their first vaccine dose.
“This means they are at significantly higher risk of catching covid and experiencing severe symptoms that could result in hospitalisation.
“I would encourage anyone who has yet to receive their first vaccine or hasn’t yet completed their vaccine course to come forward to get the jab to protect themselves against falling sick with this horrible disease.
“The governments, local authorities and healthcare professionals must redouble efforts to engage and build trust with these groups and to make sure everyone has access to reliable evidence-based information about the vaccines.”
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recently said the evidence was not strong enough to recommend the jab for 12 to 15-year-olds getting it on health grounds alone.
But the UK's Chief Medical Officers said vaccination would help to reduce disruption to education.
It was also confirmed today secondary school pupils will have to continue wearing face masks in class until the October holidays.
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Teaching union EIS welcomed the decision to offer injections to children following some significant outbreaks at schools since pupils returned to classrooms.
Larry Flanagan, general secretary, said: "Offering the vaccine to young people in the 12 to 15 age group will make secondary schools safer by reducing the risk of the virus spreading through school communities and will help reduce the level of disruption to education.
"Whilst we know that young people are less likely to become hospitalised through covid, offering the vaccine will offer important additional protection against the virus.
"In the few short weeks since our schools returned after the summer, we have already seen significant outbreaks in some school communities. This has led to an increase in enforced absences from school."
