The Covid-19 booster programme is now underway in Forth Valley.

Residents in care homes for older people are the first to be offered the Covid-19 booster vaccinations from Thursday 23rd September 2021. They will be offered both flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines at the same time after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that these vaccines could be given alongside one another.

Frontline health and social care staff are able to book an appointment for a Covid-19 booster jab online via a national booking portal on NHS Inform for vaccination clinics starting on 27th September 2021.Where possible, staff will be offered their flu vaccine and Covid-19 booster vaccine at the same time.

Adults aged 70 years and over and those 16 years and over who are on the highest risk list (previously known as the shielding list) will begin to be contacted by letter from the end of September 2021.

Other eligible groups, including all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions, adult carers, unpaid and young carers, adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals and all adults over 50 – will be able to book an appointment for a Covid-19 booster online from mid November 2021 via NHS Inform. The JCVI has recommended that Covid-19 boosters a minimum of 6 months between a second dose and a booster dose.

Meanwhile, children and young people aged 12 -15 years old can attend a number of local drop-in clinics* this week for a Covid-19 vaccination if they wish to get their jab before they receive their letter inviting them for a scheduled appointment. Everyone in this age group will be invited for vaccination at a community- based clinic from 27 September 2021. Parents or carers are welcome to attend appointments with their children and both can ask questions if they have any queries before the vaccination is given.

Fiona Coan, NHS Forth Valley’s Immunisation Team, said: “The Covid-19 booster programme will run alongside our biggest ever flu vaccine programme and wherever possible, those eligible will be offered Covid-19 booster and flu vaccines together.

The flu vaccination programme for adults will be delivered across Scotland from Monday 27th September until mid-December 2021 (a separate programme to vaccine 2- 5-year-olds, primary and secondary school pupils across Forth Valley is already underway). Appointment letters will be issued on a phased basis over the next few months so not everyone will receive their appointment at the same time and those in the highest risk groups will receive their letters first. Additional drop-in clinics** are taking place this week for children aged 2 – 5 who were unable to attend their original appointment.

This year, all eligible groups will be able to arrange a flu vaccine at 55 local pharmacies across Forth Valley and 10 GP practices in more rural areas will also be offering the flu vaccine to registered patients. Details of local pharmacies and GP Practices can be found on the flu page of the NHS Forth Valley website.

Additional Information

This year a much wider group of people are eligible for the flu vaccine including people aged over 50, secondary school pupils and education staff. The full list of eligible groups can be found on NHS Inform.

Children aged 12-15 who have specific underlying conditions or disabilities are already covered by previous JCVI advice and will be offered two doses of the vaccine, eight weeks apart.

More information on the flu programme can be found on the NHS Forth Valley website and NHS Inform

More information on the Covid-19 booster programme can be found on NHS Inform.

Drop-in Covid-19 vaccination clinics for 12 – 15-year-olds

Young people aged 12 – 15 will be able to attend the following drop-in vaccination clinics between Monday 20th September – Sunday 26th September 2021 (Monday – Friday – 4.00pm – 7.00pm, Saturday & Sunday – 8.30am – 7.00pm) at:

• University of Stirling – Pathfoot Building – FK9 4LA
• Falkirk Community Hospital – Units 1 and 2 – FK1 5QE
• Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre – (next to RVS café) – FK10 3BJ

Drop-in flu vaccination clinics for children aged 2 – 5

Monday 20th September – Sunday 26th September 2021

• Stirling University – 8.30am – 7.00pm
• Falkirk Community Hospital – 8.30am – 7.00pm
• Clackmannanshire Community Health Care Centre – 12.30pm – 7.00pm