NHS Lanarkshire is asking those with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers to roll up their sleeves and get their vaccine.
The health board has begun inviting those aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers to roll up their sleeves for their coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations.
Those eligible will be invited by letter as we work through the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) list of priority groups to vaccinate those most at risk of Covid-19.
Those who normally receive the free flu vaccine and who are also on the list of underlying conditions for the vaccination will be offered the vaccine first alongside unpaid carers who receive carers’ benefits or who have been identified by GPs.
Health board staff will then work through the remaining list of those who have underlying health conditions but who do not receive the free flu vaccine.
Carers who do not receive carers benefits, and who have not been identified by GPs, will be asked to come forward to register for their vaccine soon through online self-registration process or by calling the national vaccination helpline.
Dr Mark Russell, Lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, said: “The priority group of underlying health conditions and unpaid carers is the largest group that will be vaccinated for coronavirus.
“We would ask people to therefore to be patient as we work through this list and maximise the number of vaccinations we can complete in line with the vaccine supply available.
“With the high uptake of the vaccine, lower supply of vaccines than had originally been anticipated and keeping vaccines back to fulfil second doses, it will take us several weeks to work through this group.
“We would also ask that if you are invited forward for the vaccine that you please get it. It provides the best protection against coronavirus.”
JCVI priority group six includes people aged 16 to 64 with conditions such as a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma); diabetes; dementia; a heart problem or a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma.
