Over a million vaccines have been delivered to protect against the latest strains of flu and COVID-19 in the latest efforts to relieve pressure on the NHS over winter.
Frontline healthcare staff and the country’s most vulnerable have been immunised at speed – with 80.2% of all care home residents being fully vaccinated since the rollout began in September.
The COVID-19 vaccine is being given at the same time as the flu jab where possible, and so far 94% of those invited have had both at the same appointment.
The next groups in line for their vaccines – over 65s and those at high-risk – are receiving a scheduled appointment and 50-64 year olds will soon be invited to book an appointment. Anyone who has missed an appointment can reschedule through the NHS Inform online booking portal.
Over two million Scots will be offered both vaccines over the next three months – a pace that aims to maintain Scotland’s place as a leading nation on vaccine uptake.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“Scotland remains steadfast in the effort to protect everyone – continuing the huge success of the vaccination programme since it was first rolled out in December 2020.
“However, COVID-19 has not gone away and I call on everyone in North Ayrshire to take up their offer of a booster as soon as their invitation arrives to protect themselves, their families and the NHS.”
Data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed that COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate of 161 people who died in September, a vast decrease compared with 213 in August.
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