Vaccines in Ayrshire: NHS reveals new timetable to turbo boost coronavirus jags

Here are the brand new timetables set to turbo boost coronavirus vaccines across Ayrshire.

Health bosses last night unveiled a dramatic new plan to have all 65-79 year-olds jabbed by a week on Sunday.

It followed a U-turn on their original schedule which was set to fall far behind government targets.

Now, NHS Ayrshire & Arran has pledged to speed up the inoculation process by opening many vaccine hubs earlier than planned.

We told earlier this week how pressure was mounting with most venues not opening until the middle of the month at the earliest.

The new timetable for North Ayrshire (Ayrshire Post)

But Scotland's health secretary, Jeane Freeman, has set a target of all 70-79 year-olds receiving their first dose by mid-February.

And that has led Ayrshire & Arran chiefs to revisit their plans, with 37 of their 38 centres set to swing into gear before next Sunday, February 14.

Only Prestwick Community Centre will be dropped from the original plan over logistical issues using the base, health bosses said today.

That means residents in Prestwick and Monkton will travel to the Citadel in Ayr for their jags – with shuttle buses being laid on for those who want transport to the venue.

The new timetable for South Ayrshire (Ayrshire Post)

Across South, East and North Ayrshire, multiple venues will now operate each day.

Under original plans, staff were set to work their way round each location one at a time.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran chief executive John Burns said: "Our teams and partners are working round the clock to get as many Ayrshire residents vaccinated as quickly as we can.

"I understand that local people are keen to know when their turn to be vaccinated will come and I ask everyone to be patient, wait for their appointment letter and take the opportunity to come forward for vaccine when it is offered."

The NHS said appointments may be offered at 24 hours' notice due to the speeding up of the process.

East Ayrshire's new schedule (Ayrshire Post)

Ayr MSP John Scott welcomed the move to a quicker rollout, but said "unnecessary confusion and anxiety" could have been avoided with the earlier opening of centres.

He added: "Asking Prestwick residents to now travel to Ayr will of course leave some reliant on public transport at a time many might understandably prefer to avoid buses where possible.

“However, I do think the most important thing is that the appointments will now be offered earlier and that all local residents across South Ayrshire will now be offered their first vaccination doses in line with the national targets set – and I am sure local people will be keenly awaiting their appointment letters.”