Jab list blunders see Fifers left frustrated

COVID: Vulnerable people complain of missing out on priority vaccine slot

Vulnerable Fifers have complained they have been unable to secure appointments for Covid vaccinations despite weeks of trying.

Several people who should have been priority cases have been missed off the list for jabs and left floundering as they try to get back into the system.

They include one St Andrews mother who is undergoing cancer treatment and Gordon Blain, 70, pictured, from Newburgh, who said he had finally received an appointment, six weeks later than it should have taken. Their plight emerged as the first minister lauded Scotland’s vaccination programme, saying 2,249,612 people had had a first dose as of 7.30am yesterday and 249,252 had received their second dose. Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs: “We are on track by the end of the day to have given a first dose to more than half of the adult population which is a very significant milestone.”

Fifers missed off the Scottish Government’s priority Covid vaccine list have been left “frustrated” as they scramble to get back in the queue for their jabs.

One St Andrews mum, who is undergoing cancer treatment, is one of several vulnerable Fifers battling to get an appointment.

She fears she may catch Covid from her children who are now back at school and says she has been abandoned by the system.

Gordon Blain, 70, from Newburgh is in a similar situation.

He should have had an appointment in February when many over-70s were vaccinated but received no letter and spent weeks trying to sort it out.

Scotland’s NHS has delivered more than two million Covid jabs and all adults are likely to have had a first one by late July.

The rollout began with over-80s in early January.

The over-50s are now receiving their invitations.

The St Andrews mum, who asked not to be named, and Mr Blain both faced “extreme difficulties” with the system.

“Despite contacting the vaccine helpline, the shielding helpline, my GP, completing the NHS online form and contacting the NHS Fife helpline and everyone else I can reach, I have been sent round in circles and still cannot get an appointment,” the woman said.

She added: “My children have returned to school and so, along with many other vulnerable people who have not yet been vaccinated, I have to make a decision on whether to isolate from my own children.

“Throughout my cancer diagnosis and treatment, this vaccination situation has been the most frustrating to deal with.”

Meanwhile, Mr Blain finally received an appointment but said his letter arrived six weeks later than it should have.

“They should be desperately reaching out to me, not the other way around,” he said.

Both Mr Blain and the St Andrews mum contacted North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie for help.

He said many other frustrated constituents were in the same boat and called for an immediate fix.

He said:“These long waits are unacceptable while we are trying to encourage the maximum possible uptake of the vaccine... but people are at their wits’ end with the national booking system which is letting them down.

“The government is aware to these concerns... because I have raised them with the government and with NHS Fife.”

The Scottish Government said it exceeded its targets for vaccinating the over-70s by mid-February.

Appointments across Scotland are sent out using a national scheduling tool.

Anyone who thinks they should have had one can contact NHS Inform or call the Covid-19 helpline on 0800 030 8013.

NHS Fife’s director of pharmacy and medicines, Scott Garden, said a vast majority of Fife’s over-60s have had a first jab. Most of the clinically vulnerable have also had a first dose but a small number within these groups have not yet received their letters.

“We want as many people as possible to take up the offer of vaccination and our message to those people is they will still be able to get vaccinated, “said Mr Garden.

“A system has been put in place nationally to ensure eligible people across Scotland who have not received an appointment will not be missed.

“Anyone within the eligible categories who has not received a letter, or who has lost their letter, can arrange an appointment by providing some details on the NHS Inform website.”

Appointments can take up to three weeks to arrive.

CONCERNED: Pensioner Gordon Blain said he had to push the authorities in Fife after failing to receive his vaccination appointment on time.