Coronavirus in Scotland: CMO Dr Gregor Smith ‘really concerned’ by Covid-19 vaccine misinformation on social media

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gregor Smith, called bogus claims about vaccines “one of the biggest dangers that we face”, and called on the public to seek out trusted sources of information.

Speaking at the First Minister’s daily press briefing, Dr Smith said misinformation “makes me really concerned because it preys on people's anxiety and fear.

“My plea to everyone is to read trusted sources of information in relation to the vaccination.”

He vowed to write to all care home staff, along with the chief nursing officer, and the chief pharmaceutical officer to explain “exactly the rationale behind vaccination, and what it can offer in terms of protection”.

“The safety elements in relation to this vaccination are really, really strongly proven in terms of the trial and the research.”

“Everyone, please… when you're trying to learn more about the vaccination, make sure that you're going to those trusted sources of information - rather than some of the things which I've seen being distributed, particularly in social media.”

New statistics show that 264,991 people across Scotland have now received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Speaking at her daily briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that having first focused on care home residents, Scotland was seeking to “rapidly expand” its vaccination programme.

She said: “Thousands of vaccinations are now taking place each day at the NHS Louisa Jordan in Glasgow and work is ongoing to establish further major vaccination sites.”

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