Forthside based regiment to play national role in jab hubs

A British Army regiment based at Forthside are to play a part in the roll out of 80 new coronavirus vaccine sites across Scotland.

The Stirling-based 51st Infantry Brigade’s Joint Military Command staff of 20 personnel in Stirling will command and control, working in partnership with local authorities and health boards to try and roll out the Covid-19 vaccines quicker.

The UK government this week announced that the Army began establishing the coronavirus vaccine centres for NHS Scotland on Monday as part of the largest peacetime resilience operation ever undertaken by the UK armed forces.

Ninety-eight soldiers, mainly from the Leuchars-based Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, will support NHS Scotland over the next month.

Organised into 11‘vaccination centre setup teams’spread across Scotland, the soldiers’remit is to support the Scottish Government, NHS Scotland and local authorities in operationalising vaccination centre sites.

Army personnel will use their logistical, organisational and clinical expertise to establish the centres, before handing them over to NHS Scotland to deliver their vaccination programme.

Stirling MP Alyn Smith said in Wednesday’s Stirling Observer that it was his understanding that Stirling Council is working with the military and that details were to be confirmed“in the next few days”.

The Stirling Observer approached Stirling Council for comment on it’s involvement in the project, but a spokesperson said that they were unable to comment or provide details at this stage.