Local vaccination teams stood down after over 80's priority group is completed
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COVID-19 vaccinations in the over-80s’ category are well under way locally, but subsequent groups will have to attend centralised hubs for the jab.
At Huntly Health Centre, the 440 over 80's who have consented will be vaccinated by the end of tomorrow.
GP Dr James Jack said they were really pleased with how the sessions had gone.
He said: "There was no vaccine wastage, if anyone cancelled we called in someone else."
In Insch, 325 vaccinations were delivered to the priority category in three sessions last week, and because of some cancellations, people in the next category, who were on a reserve list, were called in at short notice to have the jab.
Vaccinations of over-80s at Rhynie Medical centre were due to be carried out this week.
All three practices have until February 22 to vaccinate people over 80 who are not able to attend a clinic.
Insch practice manager, Marie Harper, said she was delighted by how well the clinic had gone.
She said: “It all ran really smoothly, despite the weather and slippery pavements. It was a real morale boost for the old folk, and for staff who have missed the connection with their patients. Many of those attending said that they had not been out of their homes since last March, so it was good to have contact with them.”
Friends of Insch Hospital have written to Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) for an explanation of why local teams will not be used going forward.
Alison Grant, a spokeswoman for the group said: “Vulnerable people are being put at risk by being asked to travel. Insch patients could be asked to go to a variety of different locations for the jab while the government is telling them to stay at home - staying at least in their own community must be safer.
“Given how very smoothly the team ran the over 80’s clinics I do not understand why they cannot be allowed to do other groups - there is the capacity to do it. We acknowledge the hubs work for the age 50 and under group but are asking that the decision on older groups is reviewed and the clinics returned to local centres.
“The hubs are not making the health and wellbeing of our practice population a priority - centralising delivery of the jabs does not make sense.”
There is to be a vaccination hub in Huntly but The Huntly Express has been unable to confirm where it is to be located.
The AHSCP has indicated that the Huntly hub will operate on a weekly rota with a similar facility in Alford but have not provided any further information.
