One in three people aged over 18 in the NHS Highland area have been given their first Covid-19 vaccination, it was announced today.
The vaccination programme is said by the health board to be progressing well with 87,698 given their first vaccination as of February 15.
First dose vaccination in care homes was completed ahead of schedule and it is planned to have all care homes offered their second vaccination by the end of March.
Pam Dudek, chief executive of NHS Highland, said: “The work being carried out by GP colleagues to vaccinate the general population is extraordinary, with additional clinics being held in the evenings and at weekends to ensure the programme continues to meet targets.
“We have our local teams vaccinating colleagues across health and social care, with help from the Scottish Ambulance Service and their mobile unit.
“There are also a number of teams working behind the scenes, teams who are doing everything they can to support the roll out of the programme.
“Thanks must also go to our partners across the NHS Highland area including the Highland Council and Argyll and Bute Council who have provided support in various ways to keep the programme on track.
“We have had support with offers of buildings to assist our GPs, volunteers to help with marshalling and even a snowplough from the team at Dounreay to ensure the vaccine could reach its destination.”
Over 95% of over 75s in the area have received their first vaccine, while nearly 85% of over 70s have also received theirs.
Over 65s have now started to be invited to receive their first vaccine and it is hoped this group will be completed by the end of February.
Professor Boyd Robertson, chair of NHS Highland, said: “This is a massive undertaking and the challenge really cannot be overstated.
“It is thanks to the unstinting efforts of everyone involved throughout NHS Highland that we have been able to deliver the amount of vaccine we have across our vast territory stretching from Wick and Thurso in the north to Campbeltown and Helensburgh in the south and from Tiree in the west to Nairn in the east.”
He added: It’s been humbling to hear of all the ways that teams across the NHS Highland area are pulling together to ensure the vaccination programme is a success. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone involved.
“I would also like to thank members of the public who have been coming forward in their thousands to take up the offer of the vaccination.
“This has been a very challenging time for us all but it is vital that we remain focussed on rolling out the vaccination programme and, hopefully, restoring a semblance of normal life beyond the pandemic.”
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