Centres extend drop-ins

Opening times at NHS Lanarkshire’s two vaccination supercentres have been extended as the drop-in programme is extended to those aged 16 and 17.

Facilities at the Ravenscraig sports centre in Motherwell and the Alistair McCoist Centre in East Kilbride will now be open daily from 8.15am to 8.30pm for the rest of the month.

Health board officials have extended opening times at the two clinics – which can vaccinate more than 50,000 people per week – to“help improve access”to the immunisation.

NHS Lanarkshire’s clinics in Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Hamilton, Lanark, Rutherglen and Stonehouse, will continue to open on their respective days from 8.15am to 5.15pm; while a session will run at St Nicholas church hall in Lanark from 1pm to 9pm nextThursday, August 26.

Dr Mark Russell, who is leading the Covid-19 vaccination programme in

Lanarkshire, said:“We want to make getting a vaccine as easy as possible, particularly for the younger age groups.

“Schools have returned and young people are heading off to university, so we want to encourage them to get vaccinated to give them that added layer of protection.

“Our extended drop-in clinic times at evenings and weekends should help them attend at a time and place which suits them; people can attend any clinic across Lanarkshire and, indeed, Scotland.

Details of clinic venues and dates are on the NHS Lanarkshire website and social media channels.