WEDNESDAY, 16 DECEMBER, 2020

Immediate release: Photo and video attached of care home resident Fay Mackay being vaccinated by NHS Tayside vaccinator Sarah Tosh and photo and video of operations manager Emma Roberts being vaccinated available to download via link in email.

First COVID-19 vaccinations delivered in Tayside care homes

The first COVID-19 vaccinations have been delivered to residents and staff in Balhousie North Inch care home in Perth as the vaccination programme rolls out in care homes across Tayside.

Fay Mackay, 81, resident at Balhousie North Inch care home in Perth, was one of the first care home residents to receive the Pfizer vaccine in Tayside. She said, “It’s just a wise thing to do. I think it’s silly to refuse it just in case it spreads.”

Emma Roberts, Operations Manager, Balhousie Care Group was also vaccinated today. Emma said, “We’re extremely proud that Balhousie North Inch, our very first care home in Perthshire, was able to be part of history today for Tayside. Getting a COVID vaccine – especially if you work with vulnerable groups - is an important step in preventing the spread of the virus.

“For us at Balhousie Care Group it is another tool to making safe care home visits happen, alongside excellent infection prevention and control and efficient and accurate testing.”

Emma Fletcher, NHS Tayside Director of Public Health, said, “Following on from last week’s successful launch of the vaccination roll-out to frontline health workers, this week sees the first jabs delivered to care home residents and staff across Tayside.

“This is a real milestone in our response to COVID-19 and the phased roll-out will see more than 8000 residents and staff vaccinated over the coming weeks.

“The extent of the work undertaken to get us to this point cannot be underestimated and it is the product of a lot of effort from many teams in the NHS, Health and Social Care Partnerships and care homes themselves.

“The logistics of the delivery of this vaccine are complicated and therefore everything we are doing is designed with patient safety as a priority. We are planning every aspect very carefully with all our partners and I would like to thank everyone involved for the immense work undertaken so far.

“I would strongly encourage all eligible care home residents and staff to take up the offer of the vaccine – it is the best way to protect themselves and others.

“I would also like to say that this is the biggest vaccination programme ever undertaken and it is important that we look at it as a marathon not a sprint. We are starting to vaccinate those who are most vulnerable and in the highest risk categories and then we will be working through other priority groups in our population. We know many people will be eager to get the jab, but I would ask that everyone is patient as we deliver our planned programme.

“A final plea to everyone in Tayside is to stick with the rules. The vaccination is such good news but we still have to keep doing everything we can to stop the spread. Wear a face covering, avoid crowded places, clean your hands frequently, stay 2 metres apart and self-isolate and book a test if you have symptoms. Stick With It Tayside!”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718