Over 30,000 COVID vaccines in Forth Valley - including all 65 care homes

More than 30,000 thousand people across Forth Valley have now received their Covid-19 vaccine since the programme began at the end of last year.

This includes residents in all 65 care homes across Forth Valley, local health and care staff and those aged over 80.

NHS Forth Valley said the programme for these first priority groups is on track and due to be completed by Friday - in line with national targets.

The next phase will see vaccinations delivered to people aged 70 to 79 and those classed as extremely clinically vulnerable - people who were asked to shield - during the first few weeks of February.

Picture Michael Gillen

Work is also underway to accelerate the roll out of the vaccine to people aged over 65 and individuals aged 16-64 with certain underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality, subject to vaccine supplies.

Dr Graham Foster, director of public health, said: “Vaccination is a vital step forward in the fight against this ongoing pandemic and, whilst the next phase of the roll out is of course welcome, it’s important to remember that it takes two to three weeks for the vaccine to provide protection. “Our local hospitals are fuller than ever before with patients who have Covid-19 and if we are to get control of this awful virus we need everyone to do all they can to limit transmission whilst we continue to roll out the vaccination programme.”

Coronavirus in Scotland: Over 575,000 people have had first dose of...

Vaccinations will continue to be delivered at a number of community venues and GP practices across Forth Valley, including a number of new larger college campus venues which can handle up to 1200 people a day.

Scott Mitchell, director of pharmacy, said: “Uptake has been very high and we hope to see this continue as we move into the next phase of the programme.

“We know that many more people are eager to get vaccinated and we would like to thank everyone for their patience.

“We ask that people do not contact their GP practice with enquiries about when they will receive the vaccine.

“People in the next priority groups will be contacted direct over the next few weeks.”

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/nord/dm/FKH/V