Pensioners to get jabs at local centre
No need to travel to far-flung vaccination hubs
Rutherglen pensioners will be able to receive their coronavirus vaccines locally instead of travelling long distances to the region’s supercentres.
The Reformer previously told how residents in Rutherglen and Cambuslang were being asked to travel to either Ravenscraig in Motherwell or the Ally McCoist Sports Centre in East Kilbride for the second dose of the vaccine.
Since then, councillors in the area have hit out at problems for locals looking to get their second jab.
Although Fernhill Community Centre was still being used once or twice a fortnight for the vaccine, nearly all locals were being asked to travel to one of the area’s supercentres.
And concerns were raised that many pensioners would wish to avoid a fuss instead of rebooking online for a local appointment.
However, the health board have now said that due to “lower levels of activity due to vaccine supply during April” those over 70 will now be given appointments at Fernhill instead of East Kilbride or Motherwell.
Councillors Walter Brogan and
Margaret Cowie had both been campaigning for the jabs to be carried out locally.
Cllr Brogan, who represents Cambuslang East, said: “I have had lots of complaints about the closing of the Fernhill vaccination centre and the logistical, time and financial difficulties that this is causing our senior and less able residents.
“I know of one resident who turned up for an appointment at Fernhill to find the centre closed, with no alternative arrangements known to the staff, and the resident had an oxygen cylinder to cope with.
“The staff and organisation at the Fernhill centre has been first class in my opinion, but the centre has been needing to be used more.”
Ms Cowie, who represents Rutherglen South, said those in her ward going to East Kilbride often had to take “two or three buses” to the supercentre.
She added: “I have been complaining about the closure of Fernhill as a vaccination centre since it was first announced and I have had numerous complaints about the cost in a taxi, and also concerns about bus availability, if they were given early or late appointments.”
A spokesman for NHS Lanarkshire said the two supercentres allowed them to vaccinate more than 50,000 people each week, which they would have been unable to do at smaller local centres.
He added: “We acknowledge that not everyone is able to access the supercentres and made the decision in February to identify seven local centres, of which Fernhill Community Centre was one, which would open for a few days a month to allow those people unable to travel to either Motherwell or East Kilbride get their vaccination.
“We will continue to monitor the uptake at the local centres to ensure that those people who cannot travel can receive their vaccination in a more local setting.”
The community centre will also be open April 26 to April 30 for further appointments.
I have had lots of complaints about the closing of the Fernhill vaccination centre