Hundreds on track for Covid jag at Oban clinic
Covid jags for over-70s and extremely vulnerable patients are on track, with more vaccine doses on their way.
Lorn Medical Centre took a welcome delivery on Monday morning after receiving none last week. Mairi Dunnings, practice manager at Lorn Medical Centre, Oban, said supply improvements were anticipated ‘if all goes to plan’ and another jag clinic this Saturday will see hundreds more people immunised. A second delivery of doses was due to arrive by the middle of this week.
By the Government’s target date of February 5, the medical centre had vaccinated more than 98 per cent of its 450 patients in the over-80s group.
The next target is to have all over-70s and extremely vulnerable patients vaccinated by February 15, making up for more than 1,000 of its patients.
Staff are phoning round patients now to offer appointments for the February 13 clinic, when it plans to give around 700 of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid vaccines in the one day.
In a Facebook update from the centre, it said it was difficult to plan clinics in advance because the supply of the vaccine had been unpredictable, but it was anticipated this would improve, allowing it to reach down the age groups as fast as possible.
In total, the medical centre has more than 9,000 patients eligible for vaccination. Uptake is ‘very high’ at around 99 per cent and reported side effects have been very low.
Last week Oban Mountain Rescue, whose volunteers have been helping marshall at jag clinics in the town, stepped in with its Landrover and a driver to transport the medical centre’s Dr Robert Waddington and a medical student to Kerrera to roll out vaccinations.
Mull and Iona Medical Group took its first vaccine delivery on January 24, vaccinating 98 per cent of its over-80s. A second delivery arrived on Friday and more than 220 patients were immunised at Bunessan Surgery and Salen Church Hall. The group’s community and practice nurses have been out vaccinating housebound patients and a third delivery of vaccines was expected this week. In total the medical group has 2,900 patients eligible for the jags, with uptake so far at almost 100 per cent.
Meanwhile, Easdale Medical Practice had vaccinated 200 patients by Monday and is hoping its vaccine deliveries will become weekly.
Colonsay has also received two deliveries of vaccines, immunising a high proportion of islanders over 50. Taynuilt Medical Practice says ‘so far so good’ with its over80s now immunised and the majority of vulnerable housebound patients vaccinated too.
Practice manager Janice McGhee told The Oban Times: ‘We are now on to our over-70s. We’ve had clinics at Connel as well as Taynuilt and Dalmally. We are relying on the chain supply working and so far so good. Hopefully that will continue. People will be notified when it is their turn, so we appreciate their patience.’
On Monday, drones, on behalf of Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, began operating between Lorn and Islands Hospital, Mull and Iona Hospital, Easdale Medical Practice and Mid-Argyll Community Hospital.
Vaccines are not thought to be among those deliveries.