Elderly people were forced to queue for hours over the weekend for their Covid booster jags – prompting calls for more vaccinators.
One woman told the Lennox Herald how her 80-year-old mother had to wait for an hour and a half at the Alexandria community centre on Saturday.
She said that the bulk of people attending were “very elderly” and that no seats had been provided for them while they waited which she said was causing concern between many who were there, including one man who collapsed and was placed in a wheelchair.
The Bonhill woman said: “They had them squeezed in like sardines. There was certainly no social distancing.
“Before they even got in, they were queuing outside in the cold. It’s not really good enough. They had problems last year with the flu vaccine and earlier this year when they started doing the coronavirus jags. I don’t understand how this can happen when people have been given appointments.
“Mum was about an hour and a half but I have heard some people having to wait for longer. There was one man passed out and they ended up putting him in a wheelchair.
“It is just at the start of the boosters so all of the people were very elderly, probably over 75. It’s a bit of a worry.”
It is understood that, on Friday, there were nine vaccination stations at the centre but just five staff members actually doing jags which consisted of both Covid boosters and flu vaccinations.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie was left furious by the problems at the Vale site.
She told the Lennox Herald: “It is very disappointing that the vaccination clinics in Alexandria had elderly people queueing for more than an hour, some of them in the rain, whilst waiting for their Covid booster vaccination.
“We urgently need more local vaccination centres and more vaccination staff to get boosters into people’s arms. Many older people were vaccinated more than six months ago and their protection from Covid is waning, it is therefore really urgent that the booster programme is not delayed any further.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde were contacted for comment on the weekend’s events but they were unable to respond before we went to press.
We told you in February how elderly people queued outside in cold and wet conditions ahead of getting their Covid vaccinations in Alexandria. Long queues built up at the community centre with residents, some of whom had walking sticks, forced to stand outside in the chilly wintry weather.
Health chiefs insisted the queues were caused by people turning up too early for their appointments.
Some residents this time around have also had to travel as far as Port Glasgow for their vaccinations – a round trip of 32 miles. Many others, who do not drive, are being told to go to Clydebank for their booster vaccination.
It is understood that Dumbarton’s Concord Centre has only now been made available as a drop-in centre for jabs, once a week beginning this Sunday, October 31.
Ms Baillie said: “Evidence from constituents has revealed that many, including the elderly and the disabled, are being asked to travel tens of miles to be treated. It is unacceptable that individuals are being sent to Port Glasgow and Clydebank when we have the facilities to roll out vaccines locally. This is inefficient, unworkable and, with winter looming, potentially dangerous.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have responded strongly to the claims with a spokesman saying: “We have tried to make it as easy as possible for people to receive their vaccine and would like to thank everyone who has rolled up their sleeve to date. We operate 19 clinics across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde including three in the West Dunbartonshire area and we would encourage everyone to come forward for the vaccine.
“Wherever possible we would ask that people continue to book vaccination appointments online or by phone on 0800 030 8013.
“We are running drop-in vaccination centres for first and second doses at centres across Greater Glasgow and Clyde every week.
“If patients find that they have been allocated an appointment at a clinic which is too far, they can change their appointment or access a range of support by calling the National Covid-19 Vaccination Helpline.”
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