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Covid Vaccinations in my area

Posted By MissyO

"Covid Vaccinations in my area"

About: General practices in Forth Valley NHS Forth Valley / Covid 19 Vaccination Programme

(as a service user),

I will be 50 at the end of this year, so wasn't expecting to hear about my Covid vaccination yet, although I do know of people my age or younger who have already been vaccinated at this location - all local taxi drivers. someone who is just a few months older than me etc.

I am most upset today to see that the local medical centre has posted on Facebook, they will not be giving out vaccinations to anyone under 50, and anyone under 50 is to wait for a letter and I will then be required to travel to a central location in Stirling or Falkirk - from my village.

The medical centre doesn't look to be remotely busy when I walk past it each day so to now expect everyone under 50 in the local area to drive past this perfectly good location and travel at least another 50 miles seems very strange to me but apparently this is happening across Forth Valley as a whole. Can you tell me why this is, and why as someone who has worked throughout this entire pandemic and followed all the rules is not being given an opportunity to have a vaccination in the local area?

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Responses

Response from NHS Forth Valley 3 years ago
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 30/03/2021 at 14:18
Published on Care Opinion at 14:18

Dear MissyO

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns about the Covid-19 Vaccination roll out in Forth Valley. I am saddened to hear that you have been upset by reports that there will be a change to where vaccinations will be delivered for you and that this will no longer be at your local medical centre.

Forth Valley Health Board recognises the importance of supporting our population in being able to access their vaccination as close to home as possible. I am happy to report that the Immunisation Service is currently reviewing community hub arrangements specifically for our rural communities.

Like all NHS Boards, we are working closely with the Scottish Government to develop plans to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to the priority groups defined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). As this is a national vaccination programme, NHS Forth Valley are following the timelines outlined by the Scottish Government. Information relating to priority groups can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020

Best wishes

Joanne Devlin
Performance Manager Children's Services
WCSH Directorate

NHS Forth Valley

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by MissyO (a service user)

Thanks for replying, that would have been really lovely if the community hub arrangements had been extended. However, our local GP practice has posted on Facebook they won’t help anyone who can’t travel the 25 miles + each way up get their vaccination.

This on top of hearing people way younger than me, with no underlying health conditions have been given cancellation appointments is most upsetting. It was well advertised people shouldn’t be calling their surgery and to hear ignoring this request has been rewarded by early appointments on their doorstep is just evidence there is no appreciation for people who have actually followed all the rules. I don’t blame people for taking up their appointments, everyone should take up the offer as soon as it’s offered. But I would like to know the criteria for picking who gets the cancellation appointments, or is it just who you know?

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