jab centre axe sparks backlash

Published date17 July 2021
over a slump in the rollout. Health Secretary Humza Yousaf came under fire after suggesting that tomorrow's shutdown of the centre at Glasgow's SSE Hydro was linked to November's COP26 climate change conference, but before then the venue is also due to host a series of concerts by artists including Genesis.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said it was switching its focus towards mobile facilities and community drop-in centres.

Vaccine rates have slowed since the programme moved on to the 18 to 29-year-old age group. And Public Health Scotland data shows that Glasgow has the second-lowest proportion of double-jabbed adults of any council, at just 54.4 per cent.

The vaccination centre moved to the Hydro in April after the NHS Louisa Jordan temporary hospital at the neighbouring Scottish Exhibition Centre was closed.

Opposition parties criticised the decision to shut the Hydro centre when the vaccination programme was nowhere near complete.

Madness

Glasgow Labour MSP Pauline

McNeill told Mr Yousaf on social media: "You must step in and stop this madness - at least until we have all our citizens double vaccinated.

"I can hardly believe this. Glasgow did have the highest levels of the virus and the slowest levels of vaccine rollout. We need this facility until everyone is double vaccinated. This is literally a race against this deadly virus."

Scottish Tory health spokeswoman Annie Wells said: "Just as we head towards the finishing line, the SNP are overseeing a slowing down in Scotland's vaccination rollout. They are set to miss their own targets and hundreds of thousands of adults are set to be waiting on their first dose.

"People will understandably be confused as to why the decision has been taken to close the country's largest vaccination centre."

Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP added: "The Health Secretary had better be sure that this will not delay anyone from getting their vaccine."

Scotland recorded five virus deaths and 2,047 new cases in the 24 hours to yesterday, with 532 people in hospital and 48 in intensive care.

The number of patients was 11 fewer than Thursday, but forecasters fear another surge in cases could be on the horizon.A Scottish Government report said: "Based on the...

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