Health / NHS provides flu and Covid vaccination programme update
AS THE autumn/winter vaccination programme continues, people aged 65-74 and those under 65 who are in risk groups are now being invited to make appointments for their flu and Covid vaccinations.
At risk groups include unpaid carers and people who live in a household with someone who has a weakened immune system.
Those registered at the following GP practices will be receiving NHS Scotland letters inviting them to make an appointment (or emails/texts if signed up for that service):
- Bixter (under 65 at risk groups only)
- Walls (under 65 at risk groups only)
- Brae (aged 65-74 and the under 65 at risk groups)
- Lerwick (aged 65-74 and the under 65 at risk groups)
- Levenwick (aged 65-74 and the under 65 at risk groups)
- Scalloway (aged 65-74 and the under 65 at risk groups)
NHS Shetland is encouraging people to make their appointments using the national booking portal, as advised in the letter.
If people cannot use this system, or cannot get to the appointments available, then they can contact the local vaccination team.
Appointments will take place from mid-October at a new venue in Lerwick – the SIC Grantfield building behind Bolts garage that shares a car park with the Toll Clock Shopping Centre.
There will be clear signage at the entrance of the clinic before the first appointments take place next month.
As well as appointments in the daytime Monday to Saturday, there are also evening appointment slots on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Later on in the programme, the health board may be able to run ‘walk in’ sessions as it did previously.
NHS Shetland said to not contact departments currently based in the Grantfield building to try to book an appointment and “please do not phone reception or any departments in the hospital about vaccination appointments”.
The health board said: “Please follow the instructions in the letter (or email or text) that you received or contact the Vaccination Team with any queries.
“The address is – Grantfield, North Road, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0NT. There is ample parking space, including disabled parking directly outside the building.
“There is a bus stop outside Bolts Minimarket, nearby. Please note that the nearest public toilets are in the Toll Clock Shopping Centre.”
People registered at the following GP practices will receive a phone call or letter about making an appointment at their health centre. But they can choose to book at the Grantfield clinic, using the booking portal or through the vaccination team, if they prefer.
- Bixter (aged 65-74)
- Walls (aged 65-74)
- Hillswick
- Unst
- Whalsay
- Yell
People who live on the ‘non-doctor’ islands will be advised when the vaccination team is visiting their island to run a clinic.
Most people aged 75 and over and those with weakened immune systems will have given an appointment by now or will be called in the next week.
Anyone in those groups who have not been contacted by Wednesday 4 October, and would like the vaccinations, should contact the Vaccination Team.
Flu vaccination for children aged two years and over who are not yet in school and school pupils who cannot have the Fluenz nasal spray vaccine will be delivered in local health centres. People can also contact the school health team on 01595 743076 with queries about the schools programme.
Adults aged 50-64 who are only eligible for flu vaccine will be invited soon to make an appointment. There will be more details to follow.
For frontline health and social care staff, occupational health is still running clinics in various workplace settings as well as the occupational health department. Staff can also book an appointment at Grantfield Clinic using the booking portal. All NHS staff are eligible for the flu vaccine.
For further information on the autumn/winter flu and Covid vaccination programme, visit the NHS Inform website.
To contact the vaccination team, call 01595 743319 or email shet.vaccination-team@nhs.scot.
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