Current supply means Scalloway vaccination centre is not yet needed

THE PROPOSED mass vaccination centre at the Scalloway games hall has not yet opened because there are not enough doses coming to Shetland.

The centre was originally planned to open on 1 March as the third mass vaccination facility in Shetland.

But at the moment mass vaccination clinics are only being carried out at Lerwick’s independent living centre and the Gilbertson Park games hall.

Brian Chittick, who is overseeing the operational rollout of the Covid mass vaccination programme in Shetland, explained: “The current supply of vaccine to Shetland has meant that we have needed to use two out of three of our MVCs [mass vaccination centres].

“The MVC at Scalloway is being held at readiness should there be an increase in vaccine volume being supplied to Shetland.”

Delays of the UK receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been reported, although the aim of offering all adults a first dose by the end of July remains on track.

The local rollout appears to be continuing at steady pace.

Up to Tuesday (23 March) a total of 12,037 people had received their first dose, which is 64.3 per cent of the eligible population.

For the second dose that figure is 1,987 and 10.6 per cent.

Meanwhile no new cases for Shetland were included in today’s Scottish Government update.