Error in Covid Spring booster bookings which sent 4,000 Aberdeenshire residents to wrong vaccine centre resolved

Health bosses say an unexplained “blip” in Covid booster bookings that sent 4,000 elderly Aberdeenshire residents to the wrong vaccine centre has been resolved.

NHS Grampian, responding to a North East MSP, confirmed approximately 4,000 people aged 75 and over had been given the wrong details for the fourth 'Spring booster'.

Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett contacted the health board after hearing residents from rural areas around Aboyne were sent 30 miles to Inverurie for their jabs.

Regular clinics at Aboyne Academy are at most five miles away from Tarland and Birse.

The chief executive’s office said staff are calling recipients of the letters to rebook local appointments, and others can call the national helpline on 0800 030 8013 to rearrange.

Commenting Mr Burnett said: “I appreciate this is a blip in what has been a well-marshalled booster programme by NHS Grampian, and they are doing their best to iron this out quickly.

“Asking thousands of elderly and perhaps vulnerable residents to make a round trip of 60-plus miles won’t help booster uptake.

“In case some people have decided not to go, I would ask anyone to call the national booking system to get a fresh appointment closer to home.”

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