NHS Forth Valley has completed the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to all 9 priority groups ahead of national mid-April 2021 target.

More than 150,000 people across Forth Valley have now received the Covid-19 vaccine following the roll out of the programme to the final two priority groups (those aged between 55 and 59 years old and people aged 50-54). Everyone aged over 50 has now been invited to attend their first Covid-19 vaccination appointment along with people in the other 7 priority groups who were offered appointments earlier in the year.

Second doses of the vaccine continue to the delivered to people in the initial priority groups and work is also underway to identify and contact anyone in the priority groups who may have been missed or were unable to attend their scheduled appointment. Plans to deliver the vaccine to people aged under 50 are being finalised at a national level and are expected to commence in the coming weeks.

Anyone in the 9 priority groups who has not yet been vaccinated can complete the online for missing appointments on the NHS Inform website or telephone the Covid-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).

Jillian Taylor, Operational Lead for NHS Forth Valley’s Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, said: “We are delighted that we have completed the vaccination of all 9 priority groups ahead of schedule. These groups represent around 99% of preventable deaths from COVID-19 which means we have protected the most vulnerable people in our local communities who are most at risk from the virus.

“Work is now underway to finalise vaccination plans and venues for those aged under 50 with the aim of completing the roll out to the remainder of the adult population by the end of July 2021, subject to vaccine supplies.

Anyone in the 9 priority groups who has not yet received an appointment can complete the online form for missing appointments on the NHS Inform website or telephone the Covid-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week). Anyone who needs to rearrange an existing appointment should complete the online form on the NHS Inform website or phone the national Covid-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

Further information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme is available on NHS Inform.