The Ivy on the Square has been transformed into a floral paradise, complete with a colourful two-seater love swing, to celebrate Edinburgh’s move to Tier 2 restrictions from today (Monday 17 May).
Embracing 2021 as the Summer of Love, guests will walk through a stunning floral ‘tunnel of love’ to reach the brasserie entrance where they can enjoy bespoke 1960s themed cocktails and new summer dishes, with dining until 10.30pm.
Cocktails include the Electric Kool-Aid (£9.75) which blends Absolut Elyx, Plymouth Gin, Havana Club 3 Year Old Rum, Italicus Bergamot Aperitivo and Blue Curacao with lemon juice and Fever-Tree Lemonade; and the refreshing San Francisco Spritz (£9.95) featuring Plymouth Gin, Lillet Rosé, pink grapefruit juice, Fever-Tree Soda Water and prosecco.
To view the full menu and make a reservation, visit TheIvyEdinburgh.com.
The Dominion Cinema, Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh-based touring cinema operator INDY Cinema Group and cinemas all over the country, Scotland’s local independent cinemas and operators are re-opening their doors and welcoming cinema goers from today, Monday 17 May 2021, and over the coming weeks and months.
The re-opening is being supported with an additional £1.98million Scottish Government support for 29* independent cinemas and one touring operator through Screen Scotland’s Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund.
Meanwhile, every precaution is being taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience including spaced seating, enhanced cleaning, fresh air ventilated screens, more opportunities to pre-book online and distanced queuing and foyer spacing.
There is a fantastic schedule of releases hitting the big screen over the coming weeks and months with audiences able to catch Oscar Winning films The Sound of Metal and Nomadland in all their glory on the big screen when they are released today, Monday 17 May, the Black Widow blockbuster and BAFTA-nominated Limbo(from Scottish-based filmmakers Director Ben Sharrock and producer Irune Gurtubai) landing in July and Edinburgh will also be coming to the big screen when it plays a starring role in Fast and Furious 9, also due for release in the summer.
Ken HayCEO of CMI(Edinburgh Filmhouse) said: “We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Filmhouse and Belmont Filmhouse when we reopen our doors on the 31st of May.
“Seven months of darkness are finally coming to an end and the magic of the communal cinema experience is coming back.”
Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Development at Screen Scotlandsaid: “The COVID crisis has presented independent cinemas with one of the toughest challenges ever faced.
“As restrictions ease and hope grows, Screen Scotland would like to pay particular tribute to the passionate, dedicated staff who are working hard to ensure the safe return of the big-screen experience.
“Cinemas are magical, transportive places where we come together to experience stories that move us, thrill us and excite us. Cinema goers are eager to enjoy the big screen and support in the recovery of the cinemas they love, and Screen Scotland will continue to work tirelessly to support cinemas return and further growth.”
The latest survey results – commissioned by the Film Distributors Association – confirm that the UK public is more eager than ever to return to cinemas, with 59% citing the cinema as their most missed out-of-home entertainment activity, with 40% of audiences planning to return within the first few weeks after reopening and a further 36% within the first couple of months.
The research also confirmed that lockdown over the last year has reignited audiences’ passion for seeing films on the big screen, with those who have digitally rented or purchased films highlighted as the most likely to return to the cinema as soon as they reopen.
The encouraging findings also confirm two thirds of respondents favouring the spectacular big screen experience, immersive sound, special effects, that only cinema can offer.
With the wide-reaching safety measures in place to protect the health and safety of staff and audiences. 93% of cinemagoers who returned last year enjoyed an overwhelmingly positive experience, and 99% were satisfied with the health and safety measures at their local cinema.
Following 12 months of lockdowns and restrictions, the survey further endorsed how well-loved cinemagoing is. Past research has consistently proved that cinemas provide vital support for the health and well-being of our communities. Getting out of the house and watching a film on the big screen allows us to escape and immerse ourselves in another world, if only for a few hours.
Phil Clapp, Chief Executive at UK Cinema Associationsaid: “We are delighted that cinemas in Scotland and across much of the UK will from today be once again able to welcome audiences back. At this time more than ever, we know how much local communities value their local cinemas.
“Our own audience research, but also the many messages of support and encouragement received by our members, confirm that many people have missed the big screen more than anything during lockdown and every cinema venue in Scotland has been working hard in recent weeks to ensure that when allowed to re-open they will be able to offer the safest and most enjoyable experience possible.”
Follow the campaign on social media via #BackToTheCinema or #LoveCinema and visit:
Old friends from Craigroyston and the world of running will be deeply saddened by the death of Marjory Cook.
Marjory was a long-standing member, and former Welfare Officer, of Edinburgh AC and a hugely committed athletics official. Without people like Marjory our sport simply couldn’t operate.
She was also, in my younger days, while teaching at Craigroyston, the Head Cook there. She was indeed Mrs Cook the cook and she brought the same warm, encouraging, smiling approach to her work at Craigie as she did to athletics.
Her death has come as a great shock. I was with her (at a Zoom meeting) on Wednesday evening.She’ll be hugely missed by all who knew her.
Vaccine boost for the high street as consumer spending increases across the country – but many big cities continue to lag behind
Consumer spending highest in North and Midlands after restrictions eased last month
But shops, restaurants and pubs in London and other big cities continue to struggle
Government and newly elected metro mayors need a plan to bring visitors back to city centres
April’s lifting of lockdown restrictions provided a much-needed boost to many high streets as spending surged to pre-pandemic levels in more than half of Britain’s cities and large towns – but cities are continuing to struggle.
New data from Centre for Cities’ High Street Recovery Tracker suggests that spending in Britain’s large towns and smaller cities are recovering faster than in its largest urban centres. Northern England and the Midlands is also so far recovering faster than elsewhere – of the 35 places studied where spending has returned to pre-pandemic levels, 20 are in the North and Midlands.
So far, high street spending has recovered the most in Huddersfield, Basildon and Blackburn, while London, Aldershot, Oxford and Birmongham have seen the weakest recoveries in England so far.
Although spending in Scottish cities is the lowest in the UK in April, retail and hospitality opened on a later date than in England.
Cities where spending levels are highest
Rank
City
April 2021 spending (% of pre-lockdown)
Difference to week before reopening (percentage points)
Difference to summer 2020 reopening (percentage points)
1
Huddersfield
119%
48
19
2
Basildon
117%
65
32
3
Blackburn
117%
54
17
4
Birkenhead
117%
80
12
5
Mansfield
117%
77
29
Cities where spending levels are lowest
Rank
City
April 2021 spending (% of pre-lockdown levels)
Difference to week before reopening (percentage points)
Difference to summer 2020 reopening (percentage points)
54
Newcastle
72%
61
32
55
Birmingham
65%
56
28
56
Oxford
62%
45
29
57
Aldershot
56%
15
2
58
London
53%
34
26
59
Dundee
34%
-1
-4
60
Aberdeen
24%
-1
0
61
Glasgow
18%
2
-12
62
Edinburgh
12%
2
4
While high street spending in many larger cities remains below pre-lockdown levels, it is now significantly higher than it was this time last year – suggesting that consumer confidence is returning as more and more people are vaccinated and the pandemic ends.
Despite these positive signs, the Government and England’s newly elected metro mayors must set out plans to encourage people to return to the centres of our largest cities. Without the return of visitors, tourists and office workers thousands of jobs in shops, restaurants, pubs and other city centre services remain under threat.
Centre for Cities’ Chief Executive Andrew Carter said:“We can already see that the vaccination programme and lifting of lockdown is helping businesses get back on their feet. Many cities and towns, particularly those in Northern England and the Midlands, have seen a boom in consumer spending in the past month.
“It’s not all good news, the centres of our biggest cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester remain quiet as people there continue to work from home. If this doesn’t change in the next few months I’d expect to see more people working in retail and hospitality in our biggest city centres lose their jobs. The Government must work with the newly-elected metro mayors to stop this happening.”
Thousands of women, men and children accomplished their mission to complete the Virtual MoonWalk London yesterday (Saturday 15th May)!
For the first time, the iconic MoonWalk, organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, took place during daylight, with walkers taking on challenges between 6 and 52 miles in their own areas.
Embracing an “Out of this World” space theme, they raised awareness and money for vital cancer causes, while walking through villages, towns and cities across the UK and beyond.
At The MoonWalks during normal times, women and men proudly wear decorated bras as they take on their Midnight challenges. For the Virtual MoonWalk, walkers carried on the tradition by decorating their bras and many wore them attached to their bumbags.
To mark the occasion, a special bra has been created by Boadicea Design in collaboration with UK Space Agency, the Association for Science and Discovery Centres and signed by astronaut Tim Peake. It is based on the Sokul Suit which is worn by astronauts going up to the International Space Station.
Tim Peake said:“There may be more in common between Walk the Walk and space than you might think. On the International Space Station, we have been researching cancer therapies such as microencapsulation – enabling targeted delivery for effective treatment and fewer side effects. Walk the Walk is a fantastic charity and I’m delighted to support them in their valuable work.”
Now that restrictions are slowly lifting and people are allowed to walk together in small groups, the Virtual MoonWalk was the first opportunity that many had to meet up and walk with friends.
Sara Mudhar from Nuneaton said:“The Divas walked The MoonWalk London in 2019 and had an amazing time. Two years later and we’re finally reunited and walking a MoonWalk again, although it’s not quite the same as being with thousands of other MoonWalkers walking through the night.
“It has been a brilliant day, walking round Rutland Water together, meeting other MoonWalkers and the support from the public has been amazing. How wonderful to do something normal and raising money and awareness for breast cancer at the same time”.
Lin Carey has been taking part in The MoonWalk for more than ten years with the Silsoe Calendar Girls team, walking this year’s event on the streets of Bedfordshire.She said: “Every year is different, it’s always tough but we support each other and, no matter what, we cross the line together.
“I’m a breast cancer survivor, 22 years now, which I find incredible, and I’m very grateful for my treatment and the funds that made it possible. I was lucky, not everyone is.
“We’ve lost friends and family along the way and some are still struggling which is why we keep on walking. We’re relieved to have the opportunity to take part in The MoonWalk again this year – albeit virtually – and turning heads with our decorated bras”!
Jenny Strathern completed her Virtual MoonWalk in Uganda. She said:“I’m thrilled to finish the Virtual MoonWalk London, a goal I set myself to support a cause close to my heart.
“Here in Uganda, I really felt as though I was uniting against cancer and united in spirit with everyone else pounding the streets or lanes across the UK and far further afield. After some heavy rain, the sun finally came out as I walked with some wonderfully supportive friends who tramped through the last muddy kilometres towards our goal, an old swimming pool in the north east corner of the sugar estate where we live.
“My message to Walk the Walk is to continue to do the wonderful work you do and be encouraged by the difference all our combined efforts can make. We are united against breast cancer despite the miles that separate us!”
Gordon McLagan from Livingston, West Lothian said:“I walked with my sons Christopher and Peter in memory of my sister Linda who we sadly lost to breast cancer in 2017.
“We were planning to do The MoonWalk London in 2020, but due to it being postponed and the recent relaxation of travel restrictions we were able to meet-up in Manchester. Despite the rain, what an enjoyable marathon we have had, it has been wonderful to spend time with the boys”.
Walk the Walk the Walk’s Ambassador, actress Harriet Thorpe took part in the Virtual MoonWalk London, with friends including TV and Radio presenter Gaby Roslin and actor Tom Read Wilson.
She said: “It was an absolute joy to be out walking through London with friends and family again, cheering on other MoonWalkers along the way with a virtual high-five, and even finding time for a sing-song, all to support the work of this wonderful charity.
“Who could ask for anything more?! A welcome taste of normality: and let’s hope we’re all back together in our thousands next year!”
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Walk the Walk said: “With so much continuing uncertainty, late last year, Walk the Walk decided to hold a Virtual MoonWalk. We had no idea if it would work, or if it would be successful, we just wanted to promise this special day, without risk of it being cancelled.
“So, today is a day for celebration, with women, men and children walking and fundraising all over the country and indeed the world. As we could not actually be with all our amazing MoonWalkers, the Walk the Walk Team spent today phoning as many walkers as possible, to support them, and to share their journey.
“We heard the most inspirational and heart-warming stories, MoonWalkers meeting fellow MoonWalkers, giving virtual high-fives and uniting with our very special Walk the Walk camaraderie……it has been truly wonderful!”
The Virtual MoonWalk London is on its way to reaching its £1 million target. The money will be granted to help support frontline cancer charities.
To register your interest for The MoonWalk London 2022, go to: www.walkthewalk.org
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK
Vegetarian picnics
National Vegetarian Week: 10th to 16th May 2021
National Vegetarian Week runs from 10th to 16th May 2021, and what better time to try out a meat-free diet? A vegetarian diet can be a great way to add colour, texture and variety and it is also generally lower in saturated fat and higher in fibre, which is great news for your heart. We provide tips for getting you started with a healthy vegetarian picnic.
Meat alternatives
Meat is high in protein and finding alternatives can be challenging. There are many meat substitutes available in shops and supermarkets that can add variety to your picnic.
Some meat substitutes, such as vegetarian sausage rolls and Scotch eggs are high in fat and salt and should only be eaten in small quantities. Try swapping meat and fish for protein-rich vegetarian foods in your picnic, such as tofu, beans, pulses, unsalted nuts, seeds, eggs and reduced calorie yoghurts.
Include a variety of foods
If you do not eat a wide variety of vegetarian foods, you could miss out on essential nutrients, such as iron, calcium and vitamin B12. Try to include vegetarian foods from each of the food groups shown in the Eatwell Guide in your picnic.
Look online for healthy picnic recipes that include wholegrain foods, low-fat dairy products, unsalted nuts, seeds, beans and pulses and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
You can find recipes and information about hosting a picnic at Heart Research UK’s Big Scottish Picnic webpage: https://heartresearch.org.uk/bsp/
Alzheimer Scotland has received over £8000 from Nationwide Building Society to help fund the UK’s first Virtual Dementia Resource Centre to support families living with dementia across Scotland.
This is part of a wider grants programme at Nationwide – any Nationwide employee can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 on behalf of a local charity. Twenty four charities across the UK have received a share of just over £200,000 in the recent round of grants, with Alzheimer Scotland being one of the successful charities.
Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s leading dementia charity. They support and enable people living with dementia to live well with the disease, keeping them connected to their community. They provide a network of specialist Dementia Advisors, NHS Dementia Nurses, Dementia Research Centres, a Freephone 24-hour Dementia Helpline and numerous local support services in communities across Scotland.
Alzheimer Scotland is building the UK’s first Virtual Dementia Resource Centre (VRC) to help keep people connected and to ensure that no one faces dementia alone.
This, innovative digital project will offer a warm and welcoming online space for people to meet, share experiences and access information, support and expertise. It will make the charity’s invaluable services permanently accessible, 24 hours a day, to people living with dementia, their carers and families across Scotland.
Specifically, Nationwide’s investment will fund the development of the financial advice zone within the VRC, which will be a hub of information to give advice, guidance and recommendations around practical money matters for those on a journey with dementia.
William Campbell, Nationwide Building Society Branch Manager in Oban, comments: “I work really closely with Alzheimer Scotland by arranging for all of the Nationwide Branches in Scotland to become Dementia Friendly through receiving virtual training sessions delivered by Alzheimer Scotland.
“When the opportunity to apply for a grant for the charity came up, I jumped at the chance. With many charities struggling for funding in these times, it was a proud day working for Nationwide hearing Alzheimer Scotland had been chosen to receive a grant for their project.”
Claire Du Preez from Alzheimer Scotland said: “We are enormously grateful to Nationwide for this generous donation. The impact of COVID-19 on our dementia community has been devastating and the people we support have never needed us more.
“Our new Virtual Resource Centre will help expand our reach, making our support accessible to all. The financial advice area, funded by Nationwide, will be a crucially important resource, guiding families through the practical implications of financial management post-diagnosis, and offering key advice and recommendations to better prepare for the future.
“On behalf of the charity, I would like to thank Nationwide for this welcome support. It will make such a big difference.”
Parents and grandparents are choosing to pass on wealth early to help children get on the ladder
Over a third (35%) of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and business owners in Scotland have met a financial planner for guidance on passing on wealth
A third of individuals have spoken with their loved ones about how they will distribute their assets
But only 2 in 10 (19%) have created a will
The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ continues to fuel the Scottish property market as parents and grandparents choose to pass on wealth early to help the younger generation get on the ladder according to research by Rathbone Investment Management.
Home ownership continues to remain out of reach for many young people, with house price growth increasing by 6.9% across Scotland in the last twelve months.[2] The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused financial difficulty for many and has exacerbated the challenges facing young people wishing to get onto the ladder. The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ has therefore stepped in to support.
Rather than passing down via inheritance with the risk of a large tax liability, 28% of those surveyed have or are considering passing on their wealth early in order to help children and grandchildren with property purchases or other significant expenses. 29% of individuals have put money into a trust for their children or grandchildren, and a quarter (26%) have contributed to their university expenses.
The decision to pass wealth down early is partly down to a larger trend over the last year that saw many look to get their financial affairs in order. Indeed, with national lockdowns and continuing social restrictions in place, many people have had more time to plan ahead and explore ways in which they can put a financial plan in place.
Over a third (35%) of Scottish High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and business owners surveyed have met a financial planner for guidance on passing on their assets.
More widely, a third of individuals (33%) have spoken with their loved ones about their financial plans for the future. However, only a fraction of people have made these plans official. Indeed, just two in ten surveyed (19%) have made a will.
Kindar Brown, senior financial plannerat Rathbone Investment Management: “COVID-19 has caused many individuals to think about how they might best support their loved ones financially. The difficulty of getting onto the property ladder has called for the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to step up and provide a helping hand.
“With all the events of the last twelve months, putting a financial plan in place has moved further to the front of many peoples’ minds, highlighted by the uptick in enquiries to speak with a financial planner.
“Taking the time to review your financial affairs now and make sure everything is in order can provide peace of mind that your loved ones will be protected, and your wishes met, should the worst happen.
“As part of your plan, you could for example consider whether passing on wealth during your lifetime rather than within your will would make sense for your circumstances.
“If you won’t have need of the money in the future, then helping your children or grandchildren with those important – and often costly – life stages could be an effective and tax-efficient route to take, depending on your situation.”
Things to consider when creating a financial plan
Establish a financial plan
A good financial plan starts with aspirational goals – it is about focusing on what is important to you and what you want to achieve. It can help you determine whether you are on track to meet your goals and help you envisage your financial future.
You might want to plan for retirement and understand how much you will need to afford you the lifestyle you wish or perhaps you are concerned about the costs of long term care or making sure your family are provided for in the event of your death? Once you understand how much you require to meet your own lifestyle goals, you can identify how much you can afford to gift to your family during your lifetime without leaving yourself financially vulnerable.
A financial planner can guide you through the various aspects and help you put a plan of action in place.
Make a will and regularly review it
Although creating a will may seem a little daunting, it’s a good place to start when looking to get your financial affairs in order. A correctly drafted will can ensure that your wealth is distributed to your loved ones as you wish and can prevent delays in doing so.
It’s important to regularly review your will in order to ensure it reflects your current wishes. This is particularly important after life events like marriage, divorce and the birth of children or grandchildren.
Consider whether you want to gift and how much
Once you’ve established your financial plan and your will has been drafted, you will have a better understanding as to whether making gifts to your family is affordable. Gifting during your lifetime can be an efficient way to pass on wealth and help reduce the inheritance tax payable on your estate when you die.
There are a number of gifts you can make without paying tax including an exempt amount of £3,000 per annum and unlimited small gifts of up to £250 per person.
You can also of course gift larger amounts, however if you die within seven years of making the gift it may be liable to inheritance tax depending on the value of your estate
Scottish communities called on to join UK’s largest ever collaboration to reduce river litter
Keep Scotland Beautiful are delighted to be part of a the new Treasure Your River, campaign, wich launched this week. The campaign will help reduce the huge amount of litter entering the River Forth and subsequently the sea.
We are working with Hubbub to call for businesses, community groups, residents and other organisations situated along the River Forth and its estuary – from Stirling, down to Edinburgh and along the Fife and East Lothian coastline – to get involved.
The campaign will run over the next six months and the programme of activities includes visiting robot boats and a recycled fishing for litter punt, an exciting art installation and litter surveys and clean up activity.
Organisations across the UK, including the Angling Trust, Scottish Canals, Canal & River Trust, Keep Wales Tidy, Mersey Rivers Trust, Sustainable Hive, Thames 21, The Rivers Trust and companies like Coca-Cola and Costa have already pledged to do their bit. Now, in Scotland we are on the look-out for volunteers to support the campaign.
In 2019, Hubbub’s polling1 found that 75% of UK adults wanted to do more to help tackle marine litter. After a year of lockdown people’s appreciation of nature has risen further and Treasure Your River will provide more opportunities for people around the UK to get involved and help protect our rivers and seas.
Treasure Your River will engage the public on how they can make a difference through simple changes such as taking their rubbish home with them, providing tools and guidance for litter picks and responsible disposal of fishing tackle.
As well as tackling littering behaviour with eye-catching bins and activities, the campaign aims to create a legacy for each river, with an army of regular volunteers and litter-clearing infrastructure.
Barry Fisher, KSB CEOsaid: “We’re delighted to be working with Hubbub to bring ‘Treasure Your River’ to the communities along the River Forth. This exciting campaign complements our source-to-sea litter activity on other iconic Scottish rivers.
“Our data shows that we are facing a litter emergency in Scotland, and with 80% of marine litter coming from land, often via our waterways, we are looking forward to collaborating with others across the UK to tackle this global issue.
“Increasing awareness of lockdown litter levels have galvanised action across Scotland and we have seen an upsurge in positive activity as people pledge to litter pick the places they love – now we’re eager to build on this by supporting those living and working along the Forth to unite with others to take collective action to stop litter entering the sea via the river and its tributaries.”
Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-founder of Hubbubsaid: “As lockdown restrictionsare lifted there is increased concern about the amount of litter in our public and green spaces. Treasure Your River aims to make the connection between litter in our towns and cities and plastic in the oceans, and to offer people something positive they can do about it.
“The majority of plastics in the oceans are carried there by rivers; the River Mersey for example has proportionately higher levels of microplastic pollution than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We invite any individual or organisations along these rivers to come together and help halt the flow of litter into the sea.
“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a local business, a sailing club, a school, a charity or a resident.”
Treasure Your River aims to be the UK’s largest ever collaborative effort to prevent and reduce the amount of litter in our waterways, tackling six of the UK’s largest river systems: the Avon, Forth, Mersey, Severn, Thames and Trent and their tributaries.
The campaign is being run by environmental charity Hubbub with funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation. It will initially focus on preventing litter from entering the rivers and clean-up activities in seven major cities based on these rivers and the waterways that flow into them – Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Nottingham, which between them are home to 1 in 6 of the UK population.
More than three million people vaccinated in Scotland
The vaccination programme has delivered first doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to more than three million people – 66.6% of Scotland’s adult population.
The landmark was reached on Friday 14 May. Nataliya Dasiukevich from Milngavie was among those vaccinated on the day the milestone was reached. The 45 year old received her first dose at the Allander Leisure Centre in Bearsden.
The national vaccination programme is now moving through those aged 40 – 49 years old and more than 50% of this age group have come forward to receive their first vaccination.
As the programme progresses through this group, appointments are being scheduled for those aged 30-39 years old. In line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) people in this age group will be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine when it is appropriate to do so.
Meanwhile 1,599,519 of the population have received their second dose which offers greater and longer lasting protection against the virus.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said; “It is down to the enormous efforts of our vaccination teams around the country that more than three million people in Scotland – two thirds of the adult population – have received their first dose and I would like to say a huge thank you to them and all those who have taken up their offer of a vaccine.
“The vaccination programme is one of the main ways – along with restrictions and testing – that we are working to beat this virus and so it is crucial that everyone attends for their appointments when they are offered. This is equally important for those receiving appointments for their second dose as these offer longer lasting protection against COVID-19.
“It is great news that more than half of 40-49 year olds have now come forward and had their vaccine. Everyone has a role to play in helping to bring this virus under control and we want to see our high uptake rates continuing through all the age groups. I would urge all 40-49-year-olds to take the chance of getting vaccinated when your chance comes.
“The latest advice from the JCVI regarding 30- 39 year olds is clear that it is based on the current low prevalence of the virus and the availability of alternatives to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. If the situation changes the advice is that vaccination of adults aged 30-39 years with any of the UK authorised vaccines is always better than no vaccination, except where there are specific medical reasons for not doing so.
“Supplies permitting, we still expect to offer a first dose to all adults in Scotland by the end of July.”
Ms Dasiukevich said: “I am delighted to have had my first vaccine and I hope it encourages everyone in my age group to take up their offer of a vaccine as it is by doing so and following restrictions we can start to think about a return to normal life.
“I want to thank everyone at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – all the staff were reassuring and the process was clearly explained. I was also give a leaflet with further information. I look forward to getting my second dose in around twelve weeks’ time.”
Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Dr Linda De Caestecker said: “Thank you to everyone who has come out to get their vaccination so far. The rollout has been the most significant of any vaccination programme ever undertaken by the Health Board and the numbers of doses administered both within NHSGGC and across Scotland is hugely encouraging.
“Our staff have been the driving force behind the local rollout, and we thank them for their ongoing dedication and enthusiasm during this difficult period.
“The vaccine provides our best way out of the coronavirus pandemic and a return, in time, to the things we’ve all missed. We continue to urge everyone to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”
More than 36 million people in the UK have now been vaccinated with 1 dose and 20 million have received 2 doses.
