Covidbooster andflujab plansrevealed

NHS Lanarkshire has set out its plans before the start of the Covid-19 booster and flu vaccination programmes.

Dr Mark Russell, lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, explained the process which will begin later this month.

He said: “To allow us to deliver these two vaccinations together we are waiting on further guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

“There will be people who are eligible for both vaccines and some who are eligible for only one and we want to make it as convenient as possible for everyone to receive their vaccinations.

“We plan to offer those who are eligible for both vaccines one appointment, so people don’t have to attend two appointments within a short period of time.

“In order for us to do this we need the JCVI guidance, which is expected in midseptember.

“In the meantime, we are prioritising primary and secondary school pupils as they are only eligible for the flu vaccine. Our vaccination team will be assisting the school immunisation team for two weeks.”

If the guidance is received when expected, the health board will then roll-out both the Covid booster and flu vaccine to care home residents and patient-facing staff from September 20.

The wider community vaccination programme for both the Covid booster and flu will then follow from September 27.

Both vaccines will be delivered at local vaccination centres which are now fully up and running.

These are Airdrie town hall; Fernhill community centre, Rutherglen; Braidfute retail park, Lanark (with satellite clinics at Abington, Biggar and Stonehouse), St Nicholas Church hall will be used for the first few weeks until the new site is ready; Link community centre, Cumbernauld; Ballerup hall, East Kilbride; Banqueting hall, South Lanarkshire Council headquarters, Hamilton; and Ravenscraig regional sports facility, Motherwell.

The health board states it is working with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to make sure that sites are well served by public transport. Further details will be published when they have been confirmed.

Drop-in clinics for first and second doses of the Covid vaccine will continue to run at the weekends in the new vaccination centres.