| Officials say they have been unable to collate the figures because of the manner in which the vaccinations are being carried out in surgeries across the region.
But it’s hoped the first statistics will be available within the next couple of weeks.
Doctors remain keen to ensure young children get the jab because those between six months and five years appear to be particularly susceptible to the virus.
Consultant in public health medicine Dr Finn Ramones, who is leading Tayside’s schedule of vaccinations, said, “The pandemic is improving and there’s a reduction in the number of people being hospitalised, but there’s still an unacceptably high number of children having to go into hospital.
“Very young children continue to be a group being hospitalised at a much higher rate then other groups.” But he added he had been encouraged by the response from parents.
“We won’t have uptake figures for a few weeks, but we’ve got informal contact with people across Tayside and they are telling us that lots of people are coming to have their children vaccinated,” continued Dr Ramones.
“All the practices have started vaccinating and there’s been a willingness to get kids done as soon as possible. We’re just encouraging parents to bring their children as soon as possible.”
Asked why it wasn’t possible to give an update on the uptake of the vaccine, a spokesperson for co-ordinating agency Health Protection Scotland said there was a “time lag” in recording the data.
“This phase of the programme is being delivered in a different way to the initial vaccination of priority groups, both by GPs and within community clinics, and there is a time lag in data entry recording uptake through various systems,” she said.
“This data lag does not affect the delivery of the programme, which is progressing well.
“It is expected figures will be available for the expected end of the programme in March.”
Tayside’s estimated 20,000 eligible children have all been offered the jab, with the health board having written to parents to invite them to take it up and provide further information.
There had been fears some GP surgeries would not be able to spare the staff to take part in the vaccination programme, but Dr Ramones said arrangements were now in place to ensure every child in Tayside would have access to the vaccine.
“For each practice that wasn’t able to deliver the service, NHS Tayside will deliver it on their behalf,” he said. Parents should contact their local practice for more information, he added. |
