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NHS Grampian to receive the largest number of armed forces support


By David Porter

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More than 120 members of the armed forces have been drafted in to help Scotland's vaccination programme this week, it has been announced.

A total of 100 vaccinators and 15 nurses will work across 11 health boards on Covid and flu vaccines.

NHS Grampian joins NHS Lanarkshire in seeing the largest share each with 15 vaccinators and two nurses assisting the vaccination effort.

The number of vaccinators and nurses for the health boards is:

Ayrshire and Arran, five and one; Borders, five and one; Dumfries and Galloway five and one; Fife 10 and two; Forth Valley 10 and one; Grampian: 15 and two; Greater Glasgow and Clyde 10 and one; Highland 10 and two; Lanarkshire: 15 and two; Lothian five and one and Tayside 10 and one.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said the country was now in the midst of an "extremely busy" period for the vaccination programme.

"With increasing levels of social mixing and close social contact in the colder months, it is expected that Covid-19 will add to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS", he said.

"That is why we have again requested military support to complement our existing resources and to ensure we can get even more vaccinations into arms as quickly as possible.

"It remains clear that getting vaccinated is the single most effective step that anyone can take to protect themselves from the most severe disease caused by Covid-19."

A separate request for help at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been made to the Ministry of Defence.

MP for Banff and Buchan David Duguid MP said: “Support from our UK Armed Forces is hugely welcome following the delay from the Scottish Government last week.

“Our fantastic NHS staff do the very best they can with the resources provided to them by the Scottish Government and this will hopefully relieve some of the pressure.

“The military’s continued support in the fight against Covid has once again proved invaluable to the north-east and we are all extremely grateful."


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