Vaccination of over-18s in Moray to be accelerated amid Covid-19 surge
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MORAY'S Covid-19 vaccination programme will be accelerated for adults aged over 18 and opening hours extended at Elgin's Fiona Elcock Vaccination Centre, it has been announced.
NHS Grampian took the decision after public health experts warned yesterday that Moray was now seeing "uncontrolled, sustained community transmission" of the virus – the highest in Scotland at 79.3 cases per 100,000.
Vaccination appointments for younger adults will begin tomorrow.
Katrina Morrison, clinical lead nurse for the Covid-19 vaccination programme, said: "Additional Covid-19 Pfizer vaccination stock and the concerning, uncontrolled, sustained community transmission of Covid-19 in Moray, has made this decision straightforward.
"It needs to happen quickly and our staff have been mobilised to speed up the process.
"All those aged 18-39 years in Moray who have not yet received their Covid-19 vaccination as part of the earlier priority cohort groups will be appointed from this Saturday, May 8.
"During the first few days, we will phone to offer appointments before moving to letter appointments from the middle of next week.
"You may not recognise the number or the number may be withheld. Check your voicemails regularly."
The Fiona Elcock Vaccination Centre, on Edgar Road, will now be open between 8am and 10pm, with additional vaccination channels throughout the day.
The increased activity will not affect existing appointments at the centre or the delivery of second doses and vaccination of those 40-49 years across Grampian. All those aged 40 years and over should already have an appointment or will receive one soon.
Katrina added: "Working together to reduce the spread in Moray will reduce the risk of further spread to Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen.
"The slightly accelerated delivery in Moray will not delay the programme or negatively impact on the work planned throughout Grampian.
"We urge the residents in Moray to make every effort to attend their allocated appointment time to help us protect them and the community.
"If individuals cannot attend their allocated appointment, they are advised to get in touch using the contact details they will be provided – this is really important as it reduces the risk of any vaccine wastage.
"It has been a huge team effort across Grampian to make this possible and we want to thank everyone involved for their care and dedication. Please, if you are in the 18-39 years cohort, please keep your phones nearby over these next few days and listen to any voicemails."
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said today: "The fact that NHS Grampian is stepping up the vaccination roll-out and offering jabs to everybody over the age of 18 is another sign of how serious the situation is here in Moray.
"We all want to see the rate of cases brought under control. A big part of that will be through testing, and NHS Grampian has announced more mobile units.
"I would urge people locally, especially in the Elgin area, to get tested if they have not already done so. That is the best way to get this under control."
An incident management team has been launched in an effort to bring the virus back under control in Moray and door-to-door testing is being considered for Elgin, the epicentre of the spread.
