Taking jabs to the people in Covid war
Lanarkshire’s health board are to step up offering vaccines at local businesses and shops across the region in a bid to encourage residents to get the jab.
Just over 20 percent of locals in the 18 to 29 age group are yet to have their first dose of the vaccine, and NHS Lanarkshire believe that making it as easy as possible to be vaccinated will help improve those numbers.
Already vaccines have been offered at the likes of Fir Park, ahead of a Motherwell game.
The region is ahead of the national average when it comes to younger people receiving the jab, however North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire are the two highest areas in Scotland for seven-day infection rate per 100,000 population.
Speaking to the Reformer, the health board’s medical director Dr Jane Burns explained their current strategy for the roll out.
She told us: “NHS Lanarkshire is currently at 78.3 per cent, which is higher than the overall Scotland figure.
“While it is slightly less than other age groups, we are doing all we can to encourage this age group to get their vaccine and we are seeing an increase in uptake in this age group.
“We have made it as easy as possible for people to receive their vaccine with drop-ins every day and attending events including football matches.
“We have also set up clinics in retail parks, at Strathclyde Park and we are teaming up with our testing team. We are currently planning more outreach clinics as well.
“We will now have a dedicated outreach team visiting more locations including local football clubs, retail parks and local large employers.”
The statement came as many of the remaining coronavirus restrictions across Scotland were scrapped this week.
Dr Burns stressed that although Covid-19 tends to affect older people more severely, younger people can suffer badly from the virus as well.
Last week we told how 16-year-old Luci Smith spent a week in hospital and couldn’t breathe unassisted, after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
Dr Burns added: “People of any age can get seriously ill with coronavirus and even if they don’t get ill, they can still pass it on to others.
“We have seen young local people dealing with the effects of long Covid and the impact this has had on them. We would encourage everyone who is eligible, to get their Covid vaccine – to help protect themselves and others.”
She also asked that anyone concerned about the vaccine and its possible effects, or the coronavirus in general, to use the NHS’s own website rather than relying on social media.
Numerous conspiracy theories have been spread online regarding the jab.
She stated: “We are directing people to the NHS Inform website to ensure they receive consistent and accurate up to date information.”