IT’S WORTH THE WAIT
Buddies wait in line for two hours to get jab
Hundreds yesterday over vaccine the Covid-19. in Paisley’s the that move as The hop hoped. vaccine First area’s a Renfrewshire into two region’s Lagoon Minister Level as clinic fight hours they queued of 1 hours first on Buddies opened confirmed against joined will Monday for before drop- for not in a increase local past restrictions She But week authority said Renfrewshire’s in meant the new was stratospheric off cases area an the easing in table. the of determination normal as turned people out was aged in evident their to 40 droves return yesterday and over for to both vaccinators Opening first and the were second doors met at jabs. with 9am, a queue that stretched the length of Seedhill Road until its junction with Mill Lorraine Street. Holmes was among line. She some said she of the was first happy in to pe people o eopl “do anything safe”, adding: that “We keeps are no not frontline the NHS but this workers feels like on the it is something we can do to help.”
Hundreds of Buddies were doing their bit to fight Covid-19 yesterday as they queued for hours for a vaccine.
People aged 40 and over lined up in their droves for the life-saving jab at Paisley’s Lagoon leisure centre hours before the First Minister confirmed that Renfrewshire will not move into Level 1 on Monday as previously suggested.
Rocketing case numbers across the local authority area and the fact that only half the population has received both doses of the vaccine means the easing of restrictions is not yet possible.
But mass vaccination clinics across Renfrewshire are now working to change that with hundreds of doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine administered into the arms of locals yesterday.
And when the doors of the clinic opened at 9am, vaccinators were met with a queue that ran the length of Seedhill Road until its junction with Mill Street.
Some were so eager they stood at the doors of the Lagoon from 7am.
Not one person who spoke to the Express complained about the wait.
Lorraine Holmes, who received her first vaccine on her 60th birthday, told the Express she was determined to get her second dose to help keep her and others safe.
She told the Express: “I was delighted to come today, I couldn’t wait to get it.
“For me, I really am happy to do anything that helps keep people safe.
“We are not the NHS workers on the frontline so this feels like it is something we can do to help.”
Lorraine added: “The rise in cases is a concern for me.
“But seeing the amount of people who have turned out makes me feel more comfortable about a potential return to normal.”
Deborah Hackett, 57, waited for two hours and 35 minutes to get her second dose and was one of several locals who were keen to get a vaccine before potentially travelling abroad or to other parts of the UK.
“The wait doesn’t bother me at all,” she said.
“Today is 12 weeks since my first dose so when I called the helpline this morning they told me about this walk-in.
“I just wanted it done.”
Alison Struthers, 63 added: “If anything we have learned in the past year it is to be patient.
“I am due to go on holiday down south and I was concerned that my date for a second jab would fall when I am away so that is what prompted me to come today.
“I am a believer in vaccines; everyone who can get it should get it.”
Eddie Guthrie, who was also happy to join the queue on Seedhill Road, said the fight against covid was a team effort.
“It’s better having it than not,” he said, “especially for the other people who haven’t had it yet.
“We need to keep on top of it and it’s good to see today that so many others feel the same.”
The huge turn out for the jab was welcomed by NHS bosses and the First Minister who said yesterday that the vaccine was helping to reduce the number of people contracting and falling seriously ill with the virus.
But with the new, more infectious Indian variant driving up cases in Renfrewshire she said it would be one of 13 areas held in Level 2 restrictions.
She said: “There are a number of local authority areas that are not currently meeting the criteria for Level 1, either in case numbers or test positivity.
“It’s our judgement that with case numbers as high as they are in these areas - and with a substantial proportion of adults not yet double dosed - it is safer, and more likely to protect our progress overall, if we hold these areas in Level 2 for a further period.
“But it is important to stress that this is a pause, not a step backwards.”
“Taking a cautious approach now - while more people get fully vaccinated - does give us the best chance of staying on the right track overall.”