A senior Tory councillor was last night at the centre of an anti-vaccination row.
Andrew Polson, the joint leader of East Dunbartonshire Council, was under fire after allegedly stating on social media – just days before the Pfizer vaccine was approved – that he would not consider having a Covid vaccination for three or four years.
But yesterday Polson, who is standing for election to the Scottish Parliament, claimed a local newspaper journalist had taken his comments out of context.
The politician said he had been taking part in an online forum about the vaccine and had asked “legitimate questions” about the length of time it normally took for a vaccine to be developed – and whether “all people under 50 with no underlying health conditions, and who didn’t normally get the flu jab, need to get the vaccine”.
Polson’s local newspaper reported he said: “I wouldn’t consider taking it (the vaccine) until I see the side effects over three or four years (they normally allow five to 10 years to see how they pan out).”
And he also is said to have posted: “Given I think I actually had Covid in February after visiting China, and also I don’t like pumping anything I don’t need into my body, do you think someone very healthy like me needs it? And if so, why, given I don’t take or need the flu vaccine?”
Last night, Polson said: “I am not sure that was the exact comment on the thread on the Facebook forum.”
And he then insisted: “I can’t remember the actual words but I said I was considering not taking it for three or four years, not that I wouldn’t take it for three or four years.”
He said the thread had been taken down. And he added that since the vaccine was approved, he was now “totally convinced” and confident after conversations with public health officials, doctors and others that the vaccine was safe.
Polson added: “My son is immuno suppressed and we are desperate for him to get the vaccine.” He said he was also keen for…
