Scotland’s national clinical director claimed an order to dump unused Covid-19 vaccines was part of early “teething” problems in the system.
Jason Leitch tried to dampen the angry reaction after NHS workers made the claim about wasted doses at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
NHS Lothian confirmed by yesterday 145 doses of 3,900 at the mass vaccination centre had been discarded since Monday.
A worker blew the whistle on the order to throw away unused doses, which led to a policy change by the health board.
“This is a disgrace. I do not know if this is the same across the country but it was certainly made fundamentally clear to us that should vaccine doses go unused, they would be discarded,” one vaccinator told the Scotsman newspaper.
Leitch and Deputy First Minister John Swinney were challenged during today’s government covid briefing to explain why it happened.
Leitch claimed there is no widespread issue, adding: “We’re not hearing of stories of a lot of vaccine being wasted - in fact, quite the opposite. We’re hearing stories of health and social care workers going the extra mile to use as much vaccine as they possibly can.
“There was an issue raised internally at the EICC, dealt with very appropriately by NHS Lothian, procedures changed, less wastage. That’s exactly the kind of learning you would expect to happen inside any system of this size.
“That conference centre, for this purpose, only opened four or five days ago, so there will of course be teething challenges as you move the vaccine around the units, etc.”
Swinney said there was an “assumption” for up to 5% wastage in the vaccine programme. He said it was “encouraging” to see actual wastage has been no more than 2%.
“We’re outperforming the assumption that was made in the vaccination programme, but obviously taking every step to minimise any particular examples where we could improve the efficiency and the efficacy of the programme,” he said. “Those steps have been taken at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.”
Opposition parties at Holyrood condemned the order to discard unused vaccines.
Scottish Labour’s acting leader, Jackie Baillie, said: “Today is the deadline for all over 80s to be vaccinated and yet we find vaccinators are being told to destroy unused doses.
“This must not become common practice when so many people in the target groups are still awaiting their letters, never mind their first dose.
“The Scottish Government must put more effective plans in place to ensure accurate distribution of supplies and end this practice now.
“The vaccine is the key route out of this pandemic – the vaccinators are doing their best – but being told to discard doses is nothing short of a disgrace.”
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said: "People will be aghast at NHS medical staff being ordered to bin precious vaccine doses.
"We should be grateful for whistleblowers for alerting the public to what is going on and how that is often at odds with the First Minister and her health secretary's daily spin.”
The Scottish Government confirmed that by 8.30am today another 8,165 patients had received a first dose of coronavirus vaccine, taking the total to 742,512.
The increase is the largest daily increase since the vaccination programme began.
A total of 99% of older care home residents have received a vaccine, along with 93% of all care home residents.
In the over-80s group, 92% had received at least one dose.
The Deputy First Minister meanwhile said road clearing will be prioritised around vaccination centres with more snow forecast.
“We’re prioritising the clearance of roads in and around vaccination centres, that is standard practice around NHS facilities wherever there is snow or ice,” he said.
“These measures should help to ensure that people are able to meet their destinations.”
Anyone invited for a vaccination can rearrange their appointment by following the instructions on the letter they received, Swinney added.
The number of new Covid-19 cases has fallen from the 1,149 announced on Thursday, although the number of deaths has increased from 53.
It brings the death toll of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days to 6,383.
The daily test positivity rate is 4.9%, the same as yesterday, and another positive sign that the virus is being pushed back.
There are 1,794 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, down 18 from 1,812 since yesterday, and 123 patients are in intensive care, down four.
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