Between 160 and 165 healthcare workers have been trained to administer the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine this week to colleagues in the health sector who will then in turn begin delivering the jab, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said.

Scotland has received an initial delivery of 65,500 doses of the vaccine, enough for 32,750 people, with more to follow.

Ms Freeman initially announced in November the first delivery to Scotland would be 320,000 doses, but supply had been limited by the manufacturers.

A nurse prepares a syringe to administer a Covid vaccine. Picture: AP Photo/Hans Pennink

The timescale announced by Ms Freeman has also been altered, with her initial projection in November of all Scots over the age of 18 being offered a vaccine by the end of Spring 2021 being altered last week to comments the first wave of vaccinations could be completed by Spring.

Opposition parties have called for greater clarity on the timescale of the vaccine rollout.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said on Monday that it was “vital” for the Scottish Government to release information on how many people will be vaccinated this week.

The Scottish Government was unable to confirm how many people will receive the Covid-19 vaccine this week.

Doses have been transported to 23 locations around Scotland, kept in strictly controlled environments at a temperature below -70C.

Hundreds of vaccinators are set to receive their first dose this week and will begin administering the vaccine to care homes from Monday, December 14.

There was speculation as to which group would receive the vaccine first, as the product developed by Pfizer and BioNTech arrives in batches of 997 doses, which are challenging to transport around the country at -70C.

Covid-19 vaccination programme begins in Scotland with vaccinators followed by care home residents