VACCINE PLAN FOR DEWARS Racecourse also suggested as a potential site
Dewars Centre in Perth has been listed as a potential COVID vaccination venue for when the programme is fully up and running.
And it has been suggested Perth
Racecourse could also be used to administer the jag.
A Scottish Government paper lists a number of vaccination sites in Perth and Kinross.
The list includes Dewars Centre, Perth Royal Infirmary, Blairgowrie Community Hospital, Crieff
Community Hospital, Pitlochry Community Hospital and St Margaret’s Community Hospital in Auchterarder.
The plans are still being ironed out but it is understood the Tayside programme will follow a similar model to the flu vaccination programme with the majority of residents being vaccinated at GP practices.
It is expected the bigger centres could be used to meet additional demand and that residents
not have to travel excessive distances for an appointment.
Over the weekend Scotland’s national clinical director Jason Leitch hinted that horseracing venues such as Perth Racecourse could be a potential vaccination venue.
He told Radio Scotland’s Off the Ball listeners they had received offers to use all manner of sporting venues.
He added:“Horseracing have offered all their stadia to help us.
“They will be taken up as and when we need them.”
Prof Leitch added:“We don’t need mass vaccination centres everywhere yet because unfortunately we don’t have enough vaccines.”
He said such venues would only be required in February/March once larger numbers of vaccines are available and health boards will then use whichever of these venues they need to use.
Perthshire North John Swinney has said the programme will require “diligence and flexibility.”
The deputy first minister praised how many had been vaccinated already, with Crieff residents among the first over 80s in the country to receive their vaccination last week.
Mr Swinney told the PA:“As the first minister has made clear, the Scottish Government is committed to rolling out the vaccine as quickly as reasonably possible. With over 100,000 people across the country already receiving their first dose, we are off to a promising start.
“The successful rollout of the vaccine over the coming months will be a massive undertaking, and will require diligence and flexibility. As we work towards mass immunisation, I would again urge the public to continue following the Scottish Government’s guidance.”
But Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser believes the Perthshire public has been left in the dark about plans.
He said:“There has not been a great deal of information made available about likely timescales for the vaccination of particular groups, nor about possible new venues.
“I have had feedback that vaccinations in care homes are progressing and that is good to know.
“However, that is only the start and there are many other vulnerable groups who need this vaccination without delay.”
He called on the Scottish Government to make use of all available resources including the armed forces.
He said:“All resources should be utilised, including the armed forces, to accelerate the vaccine programme.
“The UK is amongst world leaders in rolling out our home-produced Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and Scotland must not be left behind.”
The vaccination programme is still at an early stage with NHS Tayside aiming to have had every over 80 in the region vaccinated by the end of January.