Vaccination teams in Lothian have administered a massive 1.6m doses of the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine in just 12 months.
As NHS Lothian yesterday marked a year milestone since the first vaccination was administered, figures show that vaccinators have delivered massive numbers of first, second and booster doses of the vaccine, helping in the battle to save countless lives and prevent serious illness.
A total of 712,827 first doses, 657,528 second doses and 266,153 doses of the booster vaccine have been delivered since the programme began, as well as 8,324 doses for patients who are severely immunosuppressed.
Since the annual flu vaccination programme began some weeks ago, vaccination teams have also delivered 278,517 doses of flu vaccine to people who are eligible.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health Humza Yousaf visited the team in Lowland Hall vaccination centre in Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, yesterday to mark the anniversary of the programme and thank staff for their outstanding efforts.
Laura Hall, centre manager, said: “When I look back on the last year and everything we have achieved, I feel really proud.
“In Lowland Hall so far, we have delivered 330,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine as part of the Lothian-wide programme. It is a massive achievement.”
NHS Lothian’s vaccination programme, which is the largest of its kind ever to be undertaken, began on 8 December 2020 and over the last 12 months has evolved and grown at rapid pace.
Now, amid fears around the new OMICRON variant and during the run-up to Christmas, the teams are facing one of their busiest stages yet.
Teams have geared up across the board to make more appointments available in all of the centres in Lothian.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director of Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said: “We have come such a long way in the last year, but we still have more to do.
“We are receiving emerging new information and evidence about the new OMICRON variant, but vaccination remains our best defence.
“Our teams are gearing up across Lothian to make sure we can administer as many doses as possible. We would urge anyone who is eligible for any doses of their vaccine to make an appointment or use one of our drop-in clinics.”
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