Since the start of the flu programme in Lanarkshire, there have been 796 clinics and 125,646 people have received their vaccination.

We are on track to vaccinate everyone who is eligible and wishes to receive the flu vaccine in our original timescales and well before flu season starts later in the year.

Dr Mark Russell, Associate Medical Director, Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: “The delivery of this year’s flu vaccination programme hasn’t been without its challenges and we would like to thank the people of Lanarkshire for their patience and understanding while we address these issues.

“We have significantly increased the number of call handlers on our rebooking phone line and the team is now managing to meet the majority of demand. If you want to rebook your appointment you can now email us. This will also help reduce the demand on the phone line for those who don’t have access to email.”

To rebook your appointment, please send the following details to FluRebookingAppointments@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk:

• Contact telephone number (preferably a mobile number – so we can send your appointment details)
• CHI number (you will find this on your appointment letter)
• Date of birth
• First name and surname
• Date and venue of original appointment
• Times when you are unable to attend

Don’t worry about contacting us if you want to cancel your appointment, or to tell us you have received your vaccination elsewhere. We have processes in place to make sure your appointment isn’t wasted. This will also help us to answer more phone calls.

We’ll be issuing information in the next couple of weeks on what to do if you haven’t received your appointment letter.

Dr Russell added: “As Lanarkshire now has increased covid restrictions, we understand that people may be anxious to leave home, especially if they have been shielding. We would like to offer reassurance that our flu clinics adhere to covid-19 guidelines and are safe to visit. Going for your flu vaccination is an important appointment to attend and will help keep you well during the winter months.

“With the solutions to our challenges now in place, we are confident that we can vaccinate more people as quickly and safely as possible. Staff in clinics are working extremely hard to vaccinate thousands of people a day. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.”