Alford Fire Station becomes flu and Covid vaccination centre for residents
A flu and Covid vaccination centre has been set up in a fire station after residents were told to get a taxi for a 40-mile round trip to have their jabs.
NHS Grampian has set up a vaccination site at Alford Fire Station amid concerns from Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett that elderly residents in the town were missing out on their vaccines.
Mr Burnett expressed fears after locals were told by health bosses to get a taxi to their nearest vaccination point, 20 miles away in Banchory, Insch or Huntly.
But the health board has said it is now “optimising the assets we have available to us” by setting up a vaccination centre at the fire station.
It comes after NHS Grampian revealed that last month, there were 260 per cent more patients in hospital with flu than at the same time last year.
Almost one in 15 beds at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary were occupied by patients with flu.
Concerns have also been raised that pharmacies are struggling to meet demand amid an ongoing “flu epidemic” stripping shelves of vital vaccines.
Community Pharmacy Scotland, which represents pharmacy owners, said the demand for vaccines was outstripping the available supply which was ordered before the winter.
MSP for Aberdeenshire West Alexander Burnett said: “I’m pleased residents in Alford will now have a vaccination centre in the town but it should never have got to this point.
“Scotland’s flu epidemic has resulted in a devastating loss of life and left our NHS overwhelmed.
“It’s completely unacceptable for elderly patients in rural areas to be stranded and told to get a taxi for a 40-mile round trip for their flu and Covid vaccines.
“I’m glad the vaccines will now be administered locally in Alford rather than centrally.
“For vulnerable groups, having the vaccines is essential for protecting themselves and others this winter and with Covid still present, it’s more important than ever that they get both.”
In her response to Mr Burnett’s letter, chief officer of Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Pam Milliken said: “Whilst the aim of the vaccination programme is to deliver services as locally as possible there is a recognition that capacity is sometimes limited both in terms of suitable premises and available workforce to deliver to every community.
“Within Grampian, we have been working closely within our community planning partnership to optimise the assets that we have available to us.
“I am pleased to advise that we will be delivering a test of change utilising the fire station in Alford to offer our adult routine vaccination programme to the local community.
“We will review the success and impact of this to support our planning and delivery of the vaccination programme going forward.”