I had my vaccine in an empty retail park unit

Walking around Elgin the last few weeks, it was obvious something was going on.

It started with rumours about cases at Elgin Academy after Easter.

The whispers grew louder, to the point where mobile testing units opened in seemingly every community.

It all became slightly overwhelming, looking at the spike in cases climbing every day.

The accelerated vaccine rollout from NHS Grampian could not have come at a better point.

I’m a 34-year-old man with no health problems other than a genetic disposition to my body hoarding iron.

I estimated it would still be a month before I got my first jab. Then I got a call on Saturday and was being vaccinated by about 9pm on Monday.

At the Fiona Elcock Vaccination Centre, set up in an empty retail park unit and christened in memory of a local nurse, two queues snaked outside – one for those with appointments and one for those eager to take any empty slots.

When it was my time to get my Pfizer jab, cheery Bernie asked me to pick an arm and roll up my sleeve. It was all over and done with quickly.

Before leaving, everyone was asked to take a seat in the neighbouring unit to be observed for 10 minutes.

Despite the slick operation and the legion of staff and volunteers, it was still evident it was a temporary facility.

But it was clear how many resources NHS Grampian had thrown at Moray to speed up the vaccination rollout.

David Mackay at the Fiona Elcock Centre in Elgin.