No vaccine drop-in clinics at Scotland's largest health boards
- Published
Young people are being sent blue envelopes offering Covid vaccine appointments rather than being offered drop-in opportunities in some health boards
No vaccine drop-in clinics are being offered by two of Scotland's largest health boards.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which covers a population of almost 1.2 million, and NHS Lanarkshire, which looks after 655,000, have nowhere for people to walk in and get a Covid jab.
NHSGGC, which employs 38,000 staff, says on its website that no drop-ins are currently scheduled.
NHS Lanarkshire's site says no clinics will be offered after 1 October.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced at her coronavirus update on 14 September that the Covid vaccine would be made available to 12-15-year-olds at drop-in clinics from Monday 20 September.
From 27 September, formal invite letters would be sent out to that age group.
Teenagers in those health board areas have been able to access drop-in clinics for less than two weeks.
The NHSGGC website says no drop-in clinics are currently scheduled
It comes on the day the Scottish government's vaccine passport scheme goes live.
From Friday, people now need proof they have had two doses of vaccine in order to enter nightclubs and many other large events.
The scheme was seen as a way to encourage the uptake of the vaccine in younger people.
An NHS Lanarkshire spokeswoman said the focus was now on Covid booster vaccinations and the flu jab and that the volume of people attending appointments for those meant that an appointment system was the best way to manage large numbers of people.
She said: "Friday 1 October will be last day for drop-in vaccination clinics for the time being.
"As we start to deliver the Covid booster and flu vaccinations the number of people attending our clinics is significantly increasing, therefore we do not have the capacity to also offer drop-in spaces.
"If your appointment is not suitable, we would encourage you to reschedule it. Details on how to do this will be on our appointment letter."
However, a mobile drop-in vaccination centre will visit rural areas of South Lanarkshire next week.
The bus will be parked at sites, external in Leadhills, Kirkmuirhill, Douglas and Allanton between Tuesday and Friday.
It will offer the Covid booster and flu vaccinations, as well as first and second doses of the Covid vaccine.
NHS Lanarkshire will stop offering drop-in vaccines after Friday
A spokesman for NHSGGC told BBC Scotland: "Our vaccination clinics are currently offering first, second, and booster Covid-19 vaccinations to the public and to health and social care staff for three different types of vaccination and for all age and priority groups.
"In tandem with this we are also rolling out the flu vaccination programme. Combined, this means our clinics are very busy and so we are focusing on an appointments model and encouraging people to book wherever possible as this is the safest and most effective way for us to manage patient footfall and to ensure appropriate staffing is in place across our clinics."
He encouraged people in the health board area to use the online booking system or to call the helpline on 0800 030 8013 to make an appointment. He said that appointments were available at all sites and these are often available on the same day.
He added: "We will continue to review the situation and if required we will reintroduce drop-ins again, depending on demand."
'Extraordinary and dangerous'
Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie called the halting of drop-in clinics "extraordinary and dangerous".
She said: "That two of Scotland's largest health boards are unable to offer drop-in vaccinations is simply unacceptable.
"Thousands of Scots remain unvaccinated - if we are ever to get this virus under control we must act now and we need to be opening up opportunities for vaccination, not closing down clinics.
"It is down to this SNP government to stop going at a snail's pace and take action to ensure that health boards continue to provide vaccination clinics, particularly as the NHS is already in crisis before we even get to the pressure created by winter."
Health boards are now offering booster jabs for older age groups as well as flu jabs and the continuing Covid vaccination programme for 12-15-year-olds
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, said: "This is unbelievable. This flies in the face of the SNP saying their vaccine passport scheme would encourage uptake among younger groups.
"In two of Scotland's largest health boards, people now cannot even drop-in to get a vaccine. The SNP should be making it as easy as possible for everyone to get jabbed and ramping up the rollout at every turn."
'Total shambles'
Dr Gulhane added: "Instead, local drop-in clinics aren't even open and the SNP's vaccine passport app has turned into a total shambles on the first day it is in operation.
"SNP ministers need to urgently give assurances that vaccination facilities will be readily available in these health boards as a matter of urgency. Otherwise, thousands of people will remain unvaccinated as our NHS rapidly approaches the winter period."
The BBC has contacted Scotland's other health boards. NHS Grampian is still offering drop-in appointments. NHS Borders is offering them in most areas, but NHS Dumfries and Galloway said there were no drop-in clinics this week.
The health board has stepped down drop-in clinics due to its high take-up rate of 95.9% in over 18s. It will continue with appointments for 12-15s and boosters those with weakened immune systems.
NHS Tayside's drop-in clinics are ongoing. NHS Highland said drop-in clinics would continue in the Highland Council region.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran's drop-in clinics continue and are listed on the board's website.
And NHS Lothian said it had a range of large venues and community centres that have drop-in facilities and it had a vaccination bus too.
NHS Inform carries information on where to find drop-in clinics and make vaccination appointments, external.
Wrong appointments
Meanwhile, NHS Lothian has apologised for wrongly sending second vaccination appointments to hundreds of teenagers.
The health board said a "data error" caused 2,500 text messages to be sent to teenagers in Lothian inviting them for a second dose.
Currently, 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland are only being offered one dose of the vaccine unless they are clinically extremely vulnerable, living with someone who is, or are an unpaid carer.
The health board said it had since sent a second text message urging the teenagers not to attend unless they fall into one of the relevant categories.
- Published1 October 2021
- Published27 September 2021
