NHS Lanarkshire has opened its mass vaccination clinics as the larger second wave of coronavirus immunisations gets underway.
Residents aged 75 and over are currently receiving appointments, while those aged 70 and over and those who have been shielding are expected to receive their first dose by the middle of this month.
The venues being used include Sir John Wilson town hall in Airdrie and the Time Capsule in Coatbridge, along with smaller community “satellite” spaces across Lanarkshire.
Dr Mark Russell, who is associate medical director of Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, is leading on the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine in Lanarkshire.
He said: “It’s great to see our large vaccination centres up and running – this sees a significant increase in the scale of our vaccination programme.
“Our staff have been working extremely hard to set up these clinics and now it’s time to welcome our communities to help them play their part in the fight against Covid-19.
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“This is the largest-ever vaccination programme and our priority is to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly and as safely as possible; this will provide the best protection for the people of Lanarkshire.
“More than 400,000 people are eligible for the vaccine in Lanarkshire. It will take time for us to work our way through each priority group, so we are asking for patience and that you wait to be contacted.”
Health officials emphasise that after being vaccinated, it is still important to follow the national FACTS guidance – Face coverings, Avoiding crowded places, Cleaning hands and surfaces regularly, maintaining Two-metre distancing, and Self-isolating and booking a test if displaying Covid-19 symptoms.
