Renfrewshire’s Covid-19 vaccine centres will close for several days weekly due to a slump in supply of the injection.
Hundreds fewer injections will be administered at three clinics that were, up until Monday, collectively administering over 1,000 covid jabs per day.
The Scottish Government confirmed last week that it was anticipating a fall in supply because of a “temporary reduction” in Pzifer’s manufacturing capacity, with Scotland receiving lower stocks of the vaccine than expected.
The Express has now learned that the huge drop will see the mass vaccine clinics across Renfrewshire closed for half the week until March 6 at least.
Around half of those aged 65 to 70 - 9,500 people - have already been vaccinated in Renfrewshire.
But it will take a further three weeks to administer the first dose of either the Pzifer or Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine to the remaining people in that group.
That is because this week the clinic at Johnstone Town Hall will only operate today and Saturday. Paisley’s Lagoon and Renfrew Leisure Centre will be open tomorrow, Friday and Sunday and host three clinics per week until March 6.
The Johnstone venue will host four clinics next week and three on the week beginning February 22.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde says that while it has been forced to “adjust” its vaccine programme, it remains on target to administer first doses to the Renfrewshire residents aged over 65 by March 5.
It has already met the first target, which asked that all care home residents, the clinically extremely vulnerable, the over 70s and frontline health and social care staff be vaccinated by Monday.
Across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 250,000 people have received the first injection.
A statement issued by the health board adds: “From the week beginning February 15, we will be administering second doses of the vaccine for older adult care home residents and frontline NHS and social care staff.
“We will continue to run our vaccination clinics and provide first doses of the vaccine to priority groups but this will be with reduced appointments and our vaccination clinics will run over fewer days.
“Once the supply of the vaccine increases, we are in a strong position to rapidly accelerate the programme once again.
“We understand the anxiety that may be caused by a slowing of the vaccination programme and we are sorry for this. We would like to reassure members of the public that we will be able to increase vaccination appointments as soon as stocks are received.”
The health board added: “As this over 65 group completes, we will begin issuing appointments for first dose to those aged between 60 to 64; unpaid carers and those aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions.”
For Renfrewshire vaccine centre opening hours visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-vaccination
