Vaccine team aims to beat language barrier
NHS Tayside’s vaccination outreach teams are organising awareness sessions with farms in Perth and Kinross to encourage workers to get immunised.
The team’s clinics have been out and about in the region for those who may find it more difficult to access vaccination due to lifestyle, location or language barriers.
Teams of vaccinators have already visited a range of workplaces with high numbers of foreign national employees, including the 2 Sisters factory in Coupar Angus, to offer the vaccine to eligible workers, with around 300 people getting vaccinated.
In order to support the deaf community, a session was held at Dewar’s Centre in Perth on Saturday, July 3 for British Sign Language (BSL) users to come along and ask questions before receiving their vaccine.
Further sessions took place on the vaccination bus on Friday, July 2 at Crieff Community Hospital and previously at North Inch Campus in Perth.
Vaccinations have also taken place at Perth and Castle Huntly prisons, homeless units and hostels, as well as all mental health and learning disability units across Tayside.
These are in addition to the drop-in clinics running at vaccination centres across Tayside, which have seen an additional 6000 people immunised alongside the usual scheduled clinics.
COVID-19 vaccination programme director Lynne Hamilton said:“It’s really important that we support people across Tayside to access the COVID-19 vaccine, no matter where they live or work, what language they speak or what other barriers they may face.
“By offering these outreach sessions and providing support with interpretation, we can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to make an informed decision to get vaccinated.”
Full details of all drop-in clinics across Tayside and how to book an appointment are available at www. covidtayside.scot.nhs.uk