Watch: A behind-the-scenes look at the EICC vaccination centre

As the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) prepares to open its doors as one of the Lothians’ new vaccination venues, we talked to those behind the operation.

From Monday, February 1, 1620 people will be vaccinated a week at the newly transformed centre, as part of wave two of the national programme.

The centre aims to ramp up capacity to then vaccinate up to 21,000 people a week.

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We talked to the team as it was getting ready to distribute the AstraZeneca jab.

Behind the scenes at the EICC vaccination centreBehind the scenes at the EICC vaccination centre
Behind the scenes at the EICC vaccination centre

One volunteer at the EICC, a nurse, urged people to get vaccinated as soon as they receive a letter.

He said: “I want us to get out of this and return to normality as soon as we can. I would encourage everyone strongly that as soon as they receive their letter, come and get vaccinated.”

Coronavirus jabs are currently being distributed at hospitals, GP surgeries and health centres.

According to weekly Public Health Scotland figures, compiled on Monday, January 25 and published on Wednesday, NHS Lothian has the lowest vaccination rate out of every health board in Scotland.

However, health chiefs say they are on track to have vaccinated 80 per cent of the Capital’s over-80s population by the end of the month, with the rest of the age group set to be vaccinated by February 5.

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