Labour leader Anas Sarwar want the  time between first and second doses of covid vaccine to cut in half to speed up the effort to get all adults fully vaccinated.

The Glasgow MSP said the virus has been allowed to get out of control and ramping up the vaccine programme is needed to ensure the vaccines keep up with the virus.

He wants a recall of the Scottish Parliament to allow MPSs to question the Scottish Government over the response to the rising number of cases that he said has been “too slow.”

Glasgow Times:

Sarwar said walk in vaccination clinics had been delayed and supplies of the vaccine have not been fully used.

The Scottish Government said supplies are limited and the programme was being done as quick as it can be.

Sarwar said : “It is becoming clearer by the day that the Scottish Government have allowed Covid to become out of control in Scotland and the response from Ministers has just been too slow.

 "Five weeks ago, before this recent spike took hold, Scottish Labour called for walk-in vaccination centres to become the norm - but ministers dawdled and now our exit from the pandemic rests on a knife edge.

Glasgow Times:

 “Right now, we should be ramping up efforts to contain the virus, but instead the SNP cut corners on Test and Protect and let the vaccine roll-out stall.”

Holyrood broke up for the summer recess just over a week ago but Sarwar wants to see First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, back in the chamber to face questions.

Glasgow Times:

He added: “Parliament needs to be recalled urgently so Ministers can answer questions on this growing crisis.

 “We need a plan now for dealing with this - and the clear route out of this is speeding up the vaccination effort.

 On reducing the time between doses, he said: “By cutting the waiting time between first and second doses, we can get people protected faster and ensure our response to the pandemic is keeping pace with the crisis.

 "The government cannot afford to take their eye off the ball at this crucial moment.”

A spokesman for the Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, said the eight week gap was the advice of the JCVI, in charge of vaccinations across the UK.

He said: "Reducing that below eight weeks would compromise the effectiveness of the vaccine and how long that effect lasts".

"We are progressing the final stages of our successful vaccine rollout as quickly as we can.

"This is limited by supply, we can only give Pfizer to younger age groups, in addition, constraints on supply affect the pool of those who had their first dose eight weeks previously."

The Conservitives echoed the Labour leader's call.

Annie Wells, Glasgow MSP and the party's health spokeswoman, said: “The SNP are trying to spin a positive picture that they are on top of this situation when in reality the only thing they are on top of is the Covid hotspot tables.

Glasgow Times:

“It’s shocking and deeply concerning that six of the ten regions with the highest rates are in Scotland.

“These spiralling case numbers are a stark reminder we cannot be complacent in our fight against the virus.

“Instead of appearing on TV cameras attempting to justify failings, the SNP Government must fix the track and trace system, speed up the vaccine rollout and ensure clinical decisions retain the confidence of the public.”