First 10,000 receive the Covid vaccine

Almost 10,000 people across Ayrshire have received their first shot of the Covid vaccine.

Those in the most vulnerable category, along with health and social care workers, are among the 9,382 to be inoculated during the first month of the rollout.

The Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine has been used on patients, care home residents and frontline staff.

It comes as the recently approved Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine comes on stream this week to patients who are aged 80 or over living in the community.

GP practices will be in touch with those eligible for vaccine directly, inviting them to come for their first dose over the course of the coming weeks.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran chief executive John Burns said: “We recognise that people across Ayrshire and Arran are keen to know when they will receive their vaccinations.

“Right across the health and social care system, our staff are working tirelessly to make sure that we can deliver the vaccine to each of the relevant groups when they are due to receive it.

“This is a huge task and we ask the public to be patient with this process.

“I want to reassure everyone that we will offer the vaccinations in a systematic way, as supply of vaccine allows, to ensure that those who are most vulnerable are prioritised.”

All those aged 80 or over will receive a letter or phone call inviting them forward for their vaccination.

Health bosses this week declined to say how many immunisation hubs were being used across Ayrshire, but said “a variety of venues” were being utilised in the fight against the killer virus.

The vaccine requires two doses within a timeframe of 12 weeks.

Ayr MSP John Scott said: “It’s very good news that a start is being made this week on rollout out community vaccinations in Ayrshire to those in the most vulnerable groups, and for everyone who is offered an appointments to receive the vaccination over the weeks ahead, I would strongly urge you to attend.

“This will help protect you and those around you, and get us all a step closer to a more normal life again.”