A last-minute change in jag supplies forced NHS chiefs to ditch Prestwick from their list of vaccine venues.
The town's community centre was removed from original plans at the eleventh hour with residents sent to the Citadel in Ayr instead.
Ayrshire Live can now reveal that a short notice change in the type of vaccine used brought about the switch.
Vaccinators require to oversee patients for 15 minutes after injecting them with the Pfizer jag.
Under original proposals, patients in Prestwick would have received the Astrazeneca vaccine, which requires no waiting afterwards.
Officials say the community centre could not accommodate the "additional space" required to have patients wait.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran chief executive John Burns said: "All venues being used for community vaccinations have been fully risk assessed.
"Prestwick Community Centre was subject to the same process as all the other Ayrshire venues and the reason we have had to make this change for this particular cohort of patients is connected to the type of vaccine being offered to patients.
"As part of the protocol we need to observe those vaccinated for 15 minutes post vaccination.
"This requires an area that allows appropriate social distancing."
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson added: "The NHS were to administer the Astrazeneca vaccine from Prestwick Community Centre.
"However, this was changed to the Pfizer vaccine at short notice.
"The Pfizer vaccine requires people to remain onsite for 15 minutes after being vaccinated.
"Prestwick Community Centre could not accommodate the additional space required for this."
Town councillor Hugh Hunter said: "As slick and professional as the Citadel operation is, it is disappointing that more effort did not go into establishing a vaccination hub in Prestwick."
Shuttle buses are being laid on by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to take patients from Prestwick to the Citadel.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: "Our travel guidance is clear: public transport can be used for essential travel – which of course includes getting vaccinated.
"NHS Ayrshire and Arran are taking all necessary steps to ensure all safety measures are in place on the shuttle buses."
