It has been revealed that hundreds of thousands of Edinburgh residents have missed vaccination appointments in the city.
Edinburgh Live sent a Freedom of Information request to NHS Lothian and asked how many people have failed to attend their Covid-19 or Flu vaccination appointments. We also asked how many of these patients had rescheduled their appointments at an Edinburgh vaccine centre.
NHS Lothian replied and said that up to and including October 5, there were 209,301 individuals who failed to attend a vaccination appointment at an Edinburgh HSCP mass vaccination centre as part of the Covid-19 or the Autumn and Winter Vaccination Programme.
They also said that up to October 5 another 36,561 individuals had rescheduled a vaccination appointment with Edinburgh HSCP.
Edinburgh is the fourth lowest city in Scotland for first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination, with only Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow having poorer records.
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However, NHS bosses were keen to point out that missed appointment does not mean that people have not had their vaccine.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director of Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian said “It is incorrect to suggest that the figure of 200,000 did not attends (DNA’s) represents 200,000 people who have not received their Covid-19 vaccine. If a person does not attend a vaccination appointment this is registered as a DNA.
"If the same person goes on to either rebook an appointment, or attend a drop-in clinic their original DNA will still show within the figures, even after they receive their vaccination.
“The availability of drop-in clinics has led to an increase in the number of DNA’s as people choose to receive their vaccination at a time that suits them.
“Vaccination remains our best defence against this virus. It is incredibly important that people who are eligible come forward for their Covid-19 vaccination and ensure that they receive both doses.”
