People in their 30s offered vaccine

Ayrshire residents aged 30 to 39 will soon be receiving their appointments for the Covid-19 vaccine.

People in this age group will be offered appointments at local centres until June 20 as part of the next phase of the mass vaccination programme.

More than 218,000 people in Ayrshire and Arran have now had at least one dose of vaccine and more than 155,000 are fully vaccinated, having had both doses.

As the programme progresses, people are being reminded that if they have moved house recently or will be moving in the near future to check that their details are up to date with their GP.

This is the best way to ensure you receive your appointment letter at the correct time.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran Director of Public Health, Lynne McNiven, said: “Uptake has been incredibly high but we want as many people as possible to come forward to be vaccinated.

“It will be the turn of the under 40s to come forward. When you do receive your appointment letter, please do get the vaccine if you are able to do so. You can get really ill with coronavirus at any age. The vaccine provides our best way out of the coronavirus pandemic and a return, in time, to the things we’ve all missed. In line with guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) the younger age groups will be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. That means that under 40s will be offered the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.”

Ms McNiven added:“As we come into the younger age groups I’m aware that some people may have concerns connected to fertility, as there has been mis-information about this circulating online. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, you can still have the vaccine - please visit NHS Inform to read more about this or discuss with your health visitor or community midwife at your next appointment.”

For more information visit nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine or call the COVID-19 vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.