Plans for additional coronavirus boosters welcomed by MSP
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Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has welcomed plans to provide additional boosters for those at highest risk of severe Covid-19 disease.
From September, a further booster vaccination will be offered following advice on the autumn/winter booster programme from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
They will be offered to residents in care homes and staff working in care homes, frontline health and social care workers, adults aged over 50 and over, those aged five to 49-years-old in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women, those who are household contact of people with immunosuppression and carers aged 16 to 49-years-old.
As with previous campaigns, vaccinations will be offered first to frontline health and social care workers and those who are most vulnerable to the effects of the virus.
Letters will be sent out to the first eligible groups next month with appointments beginning in September.
Discussions on the details of the delivery timetable are under way with health board partners and more information will be made available in due course.
However, in the meantime, those eligible for a booster need not do anything.
Ms Martin said: “The NHS is still facing huge demands on its staff and resources, and this is why it’s important we continue to protect people on the frontline, in vulnerable groups and those with caring responsibilities.
“We know vaccination has been most our most effective tool against coronavirus but that the degree of protection does wane over time.
“The vaccination programme in Scotland continues to be a huge success and this is testament to the efforts of everyone involved in its delivery and all those who took up their appointment offers.
“I would encourage everyone to receive the doses they are eligible for as and when they become available.”
