Patients across Ayrshire aged 65 to 79 are being welcomed to mass vaccination centres to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
Venues serving communities around Ayrshire are opening their doors from today (Monday 1 February) to deliver the mass vaccination programme. It means thousands of locals will receive their first dose in the coming weeks, thanks to an army of staff and volunteers.
On Monday, hundreds of Ayrshire citizens are attending at the Galleon Centre in Kilmarnock, the Greenwood Centre in Dreghorn and at the Citadel in Ayr.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Chief Executive John Burns said:
“This is a real milestone. It is fantastic to see people coming forward for their appointment and rolling up their sleeves to receive their vaccine.
“Our health and care staff, community partners and volunteers have worked tirelessly to make this programme a reality. It means that we can vaccinate our residents and offer them protection against COVID-19. I’m incredibly proud of the team that has brought this programme together and want to say thank you for all the hard work in getting here. Our message to the public is – please come forward for vaccine when offered an appointment, our teams are ready and waiting to deliver in our communities.
“Remember though we must still continue following the FACTS guidance to help protect our communities from the spread of the virus - even after vaccination. We value your continued support and patience as we do our best to protect those most vulnerable from the negative impact of coronavirus.”
Delivery of the COVID vaccination across Ayrshire and Arran is aligned to the prioritisation schedule outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and communicated by the Scottish Government.
Mr Burns added: “I also want to thank our GP practices who have been vaccinating those over 80 and for the continued support for the programme by administering vaccines to those in the clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding) category and housebound patients during this wave of vaccinations. Patients in these groups should expect to be contacted by their GP practice directly with details on when in the coming weeks they will be offered their vaccination appointment.”
If you are expecting a letter and haven’t received it yet, please be patient. Letters are dropping to Ayrshire households over the next days and weeks for appointments in February and will contain all the details you need to attend your appointment and how to reschedule if you need to.