FRIDAY, 12 MARCH, 2021

Immediate release

Tayside sees blue envelopes arriving for COVID-19 vaccination appointments

The Vaccination Programme across Scotland is moving to the next priority groups with those over 60 in Tayside seeing the arrival of their appointments in blue envelopes this week. Those aged 50 to 60 in Tayside should get ready to receive their appointment over the next few weeks.

Everyone in the 60 to 64 age group in Tayside will be invited for their vaccination from this week, with their invitations coming in the form of a letter from the national vaccination programme in a distinctive blue envelope.

The invitation will provide the location, date and time of the vaccination appointment plus instructions on how to change the appointment if necessary. There are also details for the national vaccination helpline if people have any queries.

Everyone in these age groups will get their vaccination at community vaccination centres. With more than 55,000 people in these next age groups in line for the vaccine, invitations will be coming out over the coming weeks with everyone getting their first jab by the middle of April.

Lynne Hamilton, Public Health Immunisation Programme Director with NHS Tayside, said, “We are delighted to move on to the national system and see the first blue envelopes arrive in Tayside. The Tayside vaccination teams are geared up to deliver the vaccine to everyone eligible and our message to the public is to get the vaccination when you are offered it and to please be patient.”

Over 169,000 vaccinations have now been delivered in Tayside including over 10,000 second doses, which is 48% of the eligible population and this latest move to reach 50 to 64-year-olds means many groups will be called for vaccination at the same time.

Dr Daniel Chandler, Associate Director of Public Health with NHS Tayside, said, “Everyone eligible in these groups will get a vaccination by the middle of April, so if you hear about someone who is younger getting a vaccination before you then do not worry. You will not have been forgotten about. It’s just that the pace of the vaccination programme is increasing so quickly now that different groups are being brought forward together in one bigger group.

“Vaccinations will be carried out in the special vaccination clinics and venues which have been set up in the community across Tayside.

“As more and more people are vaccinated – and the COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease – I just need to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we can’t let our guard down.

“Everyone has helped us to get to the point where we are today with infection rates reducing but please keep following the FACTS guidance, make sure you’re still complying with the rules of lockdown and please, please stick with it Tayside.”

Notes to Editors:

Who is eligible in the current groups?

• Priority group 6 includes people who have conditions which are included in the JCVI list such as diabetes, dementia, severe asthma or COPD, certain cancers, or liver or kidney disease. It also includes those who have had an organ transplant, a stroke, have a learning disability, a BMI of more than 40, or are severely mentally ill and adults who provide unpaid face-to-face care for someone else due to a disability, ill-health, frailty or addiction issues.

• Priority groups 7, 8 and 9 include those aged 50 to 64 who have not previously been invited for vaccination.

• Unpaid carers who have not already been identified through social security data or GP systems will be able to register themselves for a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment from next week. The new online service, which opens on Monday 15 March, is for unpaid carers aged between 16 and 64 who provide face-to-face care for a family member or friend.

How will they be invited?

• In Tayside, people who are eligible in group 6 will be called directly by their GP practice or the NHS Tayside booking teams to offer them an appointment.

• People in priority group 7 will receive an invitation from the national booking system. The system will send a letter in a blue envelope to people in eligible groups as the supply of vaccine allows, advising of the location, date and time of their vaccination appointment along with information about how to change your appointment if necessary.

• Further information will follow to advise on appointments for people in priority groups 8 and 9.

• Anyone who identifies as a carer but does not receive carers benefits, or who is not registered as a carer with their GP practice, will soon be invited to register using a national system after which you will receive details of your appointment by letter. This is in line with arrangements across all of Scotland and further information will follow later this week.

What about the previous priority groups?

• So far, around 97% of people in Tayside who are over 70 and 91% aged 65-69 have had a vaccination.

• There is a small number of patients who our booking teams have not yet been able to reach in these groups despite best efforts.

• Therefore, anyone aged over 70 or who is shielding who hasn’t been contacted should call their GP who will either offer an appointment in their own practice or will ensure they get vaccinated at their local community vaccination centre.

• Anyone aged 65-69 who hasn’t been contacted yet should email tay.c19vaxlocalenquiries@nhs.scot or call 01382 423108. This is for people aged 65-69 only so please do not call with queries if you are not in this age group.

• Further information on who is eligible in the JCVI priority group 6 is available at https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/invitations-and-appointments/who-will-be-offered-the-coronavirus-vaccine

• Further information about the COVID-19 vaccination helpline and booking service is available at https://nhsnss.org/services/our-covid-19-response/covid-19-vaccination-helpline-and-booking-service/

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718