NHS Lothian opens third mass vaccination centre

NHS Lothian has opened a third mass vaccination centre as part of a programme to roll out the COVID jag to everyone across the region.

Vaccinations began at Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Strathbrock Partnership Centre in Broxburn at the start of the week.

Around 1700-people streamed into the EICC to get their injection on the first day of operations in the Scottish capital.

On Wednesday, a retired legal secretary was among the first in line when a new site at the Royal Highland Centre opened its doors for the first time.

Elizabeth Anne Kirk, 68, from Linlithgow said: "I’m very excited. I haven’t been going out much recently so I feel more relaxed having had the vaccine, although I’ll still be very careful.

"The whole process has been easy and well organised and the staff are very friendly, which is important.

"There really is nothing to worry about."

The newest large-scale facility of its kind is located in the Members’ Pavilion which has nine vaccination stations.

It will be capable of giving more than 1,000 people protection against the virus every day, seven days a week.

The development comes as the MOD announces military personnel are to begin administering the vaccine in Scotland for the first time.

British Army bosses are expanding personnel strength to 200 to support the rollout.

A further 57-military personnel will deploy to assist health boards across Scotland, in addition to the 98-members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards who are already supporting the effort.

Up to 24-logistic support staff, mostly from Edinburgh-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles, will help health boards run their vaccination centres across the Lothians, Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, and Grampian.

The Highland Showground at Ingliston will initially be staffed by vaccinators from NHS Lothian, before the British armed forces staff the centre for around two weeks.

It will revert back to the NHS vaccinators after more training and inductions are carried out to boost the size of the team working on the site.

"I haven’t been going out much recently so I feel more relaxed having had the vaccine, although I’ll still be very careful" - ELIZABETH ANNE KIRK, 68, FROM LINLITHGOW

David Small, Director of Primary Care Transformation and executive lead for the vaccination programme, NHS Lothian, said: "The swift opening of this venue will allow us to increase our capacity across the Lothians and allow us to start vaccinating 65-69-year-olds sooner than we expected.

"A second larger centre is expected to become operational in March."

Alan Laidlaw, Chief Executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, added: "We can think of no greater use for our facilities at the Royal Highland Centre than to support the national vaccine programme.

"As an event venue attracting upwards of one million people each year and home to Scotland’s largest outdoor event, the Royal Highland Show, we are hopeful that the mass roll out of the vaccination will see the safe return of events in 2021."

People aged between 75-79 and those most clinically vulnerable will continue to be given appointments to be vaccinated by their GP, while those aged between 70-74 and 65 to 69 are being invited into these mass vaccination sites and smaller community venues with appointments.

Smaller community clinics will deliver vaccinations in the local area for people with complex needs or who, for other reasons, cannot and would not be expected to travel to a mass centre.

Mr Small added: "We have already vaccinated the vast majority of the first groups to be prioritised, including frontline health and social care staff; care home staff and residents and people over the age of 80.

"More than 90,000 people have already had their first dose of the vaccine."