Professor Jason Leitch says he ‘longs for the day’ when he is not on TV

Professor Jason Leitch, has admitted he “longs for the day” when he will no longer appear on our television screens.

The National Clinical Director made the comment on Friday evening during an exchange on social media.

The official Twitter account for the Highland Food & Drink Club posted a photo of Professor Leitch’s appearance in a television advert for NHS Scotland, telling the health chief: No disrespect...but I long for the day you are not on [TV].”

“You, me and about 5 million others,” the professor replied.

It comes as Scotland’s coronavirus vaccine rollout picks up steam, with the Scottish Government hoping to give all care home residents and staff, as well as all those aged 80 and over living in the community, their first vaccination by the first week of February.

Speaking on Friday, the National Clinical Director said very few over-80s have been reluctant to receive the coronavirus vaccine due to conspiracy theories.

Responding to press questions at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Friday, Professor Leitch said: “The true anti-vaccine community is very, very small and I’ll tell you that we don’t find it within NHS workers, because NHS workers see the direct result of the millions of lives that have been saved by vaccines across the world and have eradicated some diseases.

“So you don’t need to in that group, and you don’t meet it in the 80s either – there are very few conspiracy theorists in the over-80s group that we’re calling for vaccination.”

He called hesitancy over receiving the vaccine “absolutely legitimate”.

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