NHS Lanarkshire has set out plans for the next few weeks, before the start of the covid-19 booster and flu vaccination programmes.
Dr Mark Russell, Lead for the covid-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, said: “To allow us to deliver these two vaccinations together we are waiting on further guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). There will be people who are eligible for both vaccines and some who are eligible for only one and we want to make it as convenient as possible for everyone to receive their vaccinations.
“We plan to offer those who are eligible for both vaccines one appointment, so people don’t have to attend two appointments within a short period of time. In order for us to do this we need the JCVI guidance, which is expected in mid-September. In the meantime, we are prioritising primary and secondary school pupils as they are only eligible for the flu vaccine. Our vaccination team will be assisting the school immunisation team for two weeks, starting on Monday 6 September.”
If the guidance is received when expected, we will then roll-out both the covid booster and flu vaccine to care home residents and patient-facing staff from 20 September.
The wider community vaccination programme for both the covid booster and flu will then follow from 27 September.
Both vaccines will be delivered at our local vaccination centres which will be fully up and running from Saturday 4 September. These are:
- Airdrie Town Hall, Airdrie
- Fernhill Community Centre, Rutherglen
- Braidfute Retail Park, Lanark (with satellite clinics at Abington, Biggar and Stonehouse) St Nicholas Church Hall will be used for the first few weeks until the new site is ready
- Link Community Centre, Cumbernauld
- Ballerup Hall, East Kilbride
- Banqueting Hall, South Lanarkshire Council Headquarters, Hamilton
- Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Motherwell
We are working with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to make sure that our sites are well served by public transport. Further details will be published when they have been confirmed.
Our drop-in clinics for first and second doses of the covid-19 vaccine will continue to run at the weekends in our new vaccination centres. Information on local covid-19 vaccination drop-in clinics is published on our website at www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccine/#clinics and on our social media channels.
People can also attend any drop-in centre in Scotland, if it is more convenient. Details are available at www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/invitations-and-appointments/vaccine-drop-in-clinics
