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More than 50,000 vaccine appointments missed in just four months across north-east


By Kirsty Brown

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An MP has urged people to attend drop-in vaccination clinics after new figures show more than 50,000 scheduled appointments have been missed in just four months across the north-east.

Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid spoke of his concern at the high number of vaccine appointments not being attended, with as many as 23,000 missed in May alone.

It comes after figures from NHS Grampian show 51,000 scheduled appointments for either the first or second dose were not attended between February and May, with the figure rising fourfold in that period.

The Conservative MP said vaccines were the quickest route towards full normality from the pandemic, and he urged people who have missed their appointments to reschedule or attend drop-in clinics available in areas such as Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Macduff.

David Duguid.
David Duguid.

MP David Duguid said: “These figures show an alarming trend in the number of scheduled appointments missed across the north-east.

“The other concerning factor is that these statistics show missed appointments are on the rise coinciding with the younger demographic who are now able to get the vaccine.

“It’s vital the Scottish Government focusses on addressing this issue because we want all age ranges to be vaccinated as quickly as possible.

“The SNP seem happy to sit back and hope more young people come forward to get their vaccine, without doing much as a government to encourage and support them to do so.

“They must change this attitude and consider providing more drop-in facilities and a greater use of texting and other technology to ensure the younger demographic don’t get left behind.”


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