Excellent progress on Western Isles COVID vaccination programme

More than 2,500 individuals in the Western Isles have now received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 

NHS Western Isles has completed the first vaccination of eligible health and social care staff and care home residents, and is well underway with our vaccination of the over-80s priority group, with those over-80s who are housebound to receive appointments shortly.

Those over 80s who have not yet attended an appointment and still wish to do so can contact us to arrange a vaccination appointment on 0808 196 8383.

Wave 2 of the vaccination programme will begin next week in the Western Isles when we will start inviting the next priority group for appointments, which is everyone aged 75 and over. We will be contacting individuals in this priority group by telephone so please don’t contact your GP or hospital for an appointment if you fall within the over 75 age group. 

We have an experienced team of vaccinators in place who are delivering vaccinations across the length of the Western Isles. 

Following vaccination of the over 75 age group, Wave 2 vaccination priority groups throughout the remainder of January and February will be: 

• All those aged 70 and over and clinically extremely vulnerable 
• All those aged 65 and over 
• All those at risk aged over 16 to 64 years and over. 

Everyone eligible for the vaccine in the Western Isles in the above groups will be contacted by telephone to invite them to attend an appointment, so we would reiterate that people in the eligible groups should not contact their hospital, health board or GP directly (with the exception of over 80s who have not yet had an appointment who should contact our appointment line). 

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive Gordon Jamieson said: “We are extremely pleased with how well our vaccination programme is going in the Western Isles. Uptake has been very good and we are progressing rapidly with the vaccination of eligible groups. “

“Our staff working on this programme have done an incredible job in arranging this very complicated programme in such a short space of time and I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved.

“I would also like to thank everyone who has attended their appointment to date, and to encourage everyone eligible to consider taking the COVID vaccine, which is our best chance of bringing the current pandemic to an end. “

“As we progress with this very important mass vaccination programme we would remind our local population of how vital it is to continue to continue to comply with the current restrictions and Government measures to prevent and suppress any spread of COVID-19 in our communities.” 

Remember FACTS: 

• face coverings
• avoid crowded places
• clean your hands and clean hard surfaces
• keep two metres distance from people from other households and
• self-isolate, and get tested immediately, if you have symptoms 

If you have been given an appointment and are unable to attend or would like to rearrange your appointment, we would appeal to you to let us know as soon as possible so that your appointment can be offered to someone else, and so we can reduce the risk of vaccine wastage. To do this please tel. 0808 196 8383.

An information leaflet on the vaccine has been delivered to all households across Scotland, and a patient information leaflet is also available online at: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/media/2909/covid-vaccine-adults-leaflet.pdf 

NHS Western Isles wishes to ensure that everyone is aware that the vaccine will always be free, and people will not be asked to provide personal or identity details by text or over the phone.