In the Telegraph today:
England is vulnerable to a new spike in coronavirus cases because it is taking so long to inoculate children, experts have warned.
While Scotland has vaccinated more than a quarter of all 12- to 15-year-olds and several European countries have vaccinated nearly all of them, England has only got first jabs to 10 per cent of the age group nearly a month after receiving the go-ahead.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/englands-slow-vaccine-rollout-children-risks-new-covid-spike/?utm_content=telegraph&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1633787996
The gap is actually greater than suggested above. Scotland has vaccinated 36% of 12-15 year-olds:
Why has England vaccinated so few?
Devi Sridhar, a professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, said: “I think the first thing is the messaging hasn’t been great in England, and I think a lot of parents and teachers are confused about whether their children actually need the vaccine.”
In places such as Portugal, Denmark and Scotland the messaging to children and parents had been clear, she said, but in England “it’s been very confusing because of the multitude of voices”.
Prof Sridhar added: “I think also here in Scotland we’ve focused more on providing clinics where children can access them – so drop-in clinics and [mobile] buses at the weekend, for instance”.
In England, where vaccination of 12-15-year-olds is focused almost exclusively on schools, high infection rates are slowing the process with over 200,000 children off school with Covid and many nursing staff also isolating.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/englands-slow-vaccine-rollout-children-risks-new-covid-spike/?utm_content=telegraph&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1633787996
There’s not a word of criticism of government ministers here. Imagine the Scottish system did so badly, how might Lisa Summers or Glen Campbell report it?
Laughably, at the end, Professor Calum Semple, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told the BBC:
I can’t step on the toes of the policymakers [but] I do think some flexibility would be great. And I’m sure there are people thinking about it.
Back in December 2020, the Prof and Sage seem not to have wanted to step on toes, when Sage advice to vaccinate all the care home residents, as a number one priority, ahead of all others, was ignored – thousands died unnecessarily. See:
https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2021/05/21/scale-of-care-home-deaths-in-england-were-kept-secret/
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My son’s pal who just came back from living in Japan, home to England, is horrified at the lack of masks and general care re the Corona virus there! He also says they are ‘going up to Scotland having not worn masks’. I guess he’d know.
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One third of Scottish 12/15 year olds vaccinated, while other European countries have vaccinated most!!!! I can see Reporting Scotland headlining this, with Anas Sarwar of BBC’s poster boy Alex Cole-Hamilton, performing being ‘really angry’ on screen.
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