More than 28,000 people in Lanarkshire have now received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
The health board’s roll out of the jab is now set to move into its second phase from next month, which will see those over 70 and people who are currently shielding offered appointments.
Dr Mark Russell, associate medical director Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, who is leading on the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine in Lanarkshire, has asked locals to remain patient as they wait for news of their vaccine appointment.
He said: “This is the largest vaccination programme ever undertaken and we are asking people to be patient and wait to be contacted.
“All appointments are being scheduled nationally using information from GP practice records, so it will take time to get to everyone in any one priority group.
“When you receive your appointment, there will be an option to change it if it is not suitable. However, we would encourage people to take the vaccine when they are offered it.”
“Since Monday, January 11 we have been working with GP practices to contact everyone over the age of 80 and people who are housebound. This will take place over the next two to three weeks.
“Please be patient and wait to be contacted – this will be by either telephone or letter.
“We are vaccinating people in line with the national guidance and are currently working our way through the priority groups included in wave 1. These include patient-facing health and social care staff, care home staff and residents and everyone aged 80 and over and people who are housebound.
“We plan to finish these groups by early February, after which we will move on to inviting people in wave 2. Among the first people to receive appointments in wave 2 are everyone aged 70 and over and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable – this is people who are shielding.
“There is a significant increase in the scale of the vaccination programme from wave 1 to wave 2. People in wave 2 will be called to large vaccination clinics that are currently being set up across Lanarkshire.”
Among the clinics being set up are those at the Cambuslang Institute and the Harry Heany Day Centre.
Dr Russell added: “While the vaccination programme is a great step forward in winning the fight against Covid-19, we can’t become complacent.
“We need to continue to play our part in keeping ourselves safe. This means continuing to follow the national FACTS guidance.”
The FACTS advice is:
F – face covering
A – avoid crowded places
C – clean hands and surfaces regularly
T – two metres distance from other people
S – self-isolate and book a test if you have Covid-19 symptoms such as a new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste.
