Vaccination centres start to open doors
Around 66,000 now had jag in NHS Tayside area
Two vaccination centres in Perth and Kinross have now opened and handed out their first jags to the public.
The facilities at Dewars Centre in Perth and Blairgowrie Town Hall - along with another at the Atholl Centre in Pitlochry, due to open later this week - will help NHS Tayside continue its vaccination programme as the region fights back against COVID-19.
The health board is currently focussing on the 65 to 70 year old age group and has so far vaccinated around 66,000 people.
Once the three centres - along with five others across Tayside - are fully up and running, 30,000 jags will be administered every week.
But associate director of public health Dr Daniel Chandler warned people not to get complacent once they have been vaccinated.
He said: “Please remember it takes two to three weeks for the vaccine to provide protection and it is not known whether it stops you spreading the virus to others.
“We all need to continue to stick to the rules and help stop the spread in our communities.
“There has been a huge amount of work by NHS Tayside’s vaccination teams in partnership with colleagues in the local authorities and the armed forces to set up these venues and we are grateful to everyone who has helped to deliver this.
“We would also like to thank everyone in Tayside for their patience as we work our way through the priority groups. We’re asking that people do not contact their GP with enquiries about when they will receive the vaccine as practices are currently very busy making arrangements and booking appointments.”
Perth and Kinross Council leader Murray Lyle said: “The roll out of the vaccination programme is critical in the fight against COVID-19 and I am delighted Perth and Kinross Council is able to assist with its delivery and thank everyone who is helping run these community vaccination centres.
“Speeding up delivery of the vaccine will save lives and help us out of lockdown.
“Everyone who is invited for a vaccination should take up the opportunity to protect themselves from coronavirus but I would remind people they will still need to follow FACTS.
“The vaccine takes up to three weeks to become effective and even then it may still be possible for people to transmit the virus to others.”