Delta Variant Set Us Back 10 Weeks

Push is now on to speed up second vaccine doses

- Vivienne Aitken

One of the Scottish Government’s medical experts says the new Delta variant has set the country back by eight to 10 weeks in the fight against coronavirus.

Clinical director Jason Leitch says only two doses of the vaccine will give people “decent” protection against the strain first identified in India.

So the Government is now aiming to offer second doses eight weeks after the first which would give at least 80 per cent protection, he said.

Leitch’s comments yesterday came as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to slam on the brakes today on Scotland’s exit from lockdown.