Covid-19 vaccination options within Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

For personal reasons i do not wish to receive any of the mRNA vaccines offered in scotland, i am however willing to vaccinated with a Viral vector vaccine, when will this option be available and where will it be offered.

I am even willing to pay for the vaccination privately but no information is forthcoming on any of the Scot Gov websites.

I am aware that at present their is no choice but surely if the scottish government wish the full population to be vaccinated the freedom of choice as to the type of vaccine should be made available.

Response

Below if a copy of all information requested. 

The answer to your question is - 

On 28 May, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the singledose Janssen vaccine for use in the UK. Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVi) will provide further advice shortly. The Jansen vaccine has been granted authorisation for supply in the UK for adults aged 18 and over, and we anticipate receiving some stocks of the vaccine later this year.

Jansen is a viral vector vaccine similar to AstraZeneca, but is a single-dose vaccine. As with all new COVID-19 vaccines, we anticipate that JCVI will provide a recommendation on how the Jansen vaccine should be deployed. The UK Vaccines Taskforce has secured 20M doses, of which Scotland will receive a proportionate share.

Moderna, Pfizer (mRNA) and AZ (a viral vector) are all authorised as suitably safe and effective by the relevant Medical Regulatory authorities, you will be offered a vaccine that is safe and effective. A choice of vaccines is not available, unless there is a clinical reason as to why this is required, such as an allergy.

The COVID-19 vaccination is only available through the NHS to eligible groups and it is a free vaccination.

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