Health / Staff working ‘very hard’ to deliver flu vaccine programme
PEOPLE in Shetland have been thanked for their patience as a major vaccination programme incorporating flu jabs and Covid boosters gets underway.
NHS Shetland chairman Gary Robinson said at a meeting of the health board on Tuesday that “staff are working very hard on top of their normal jobs”.
He reassured the community that staff are working through lists of eligible people.
The health board is expecting to offer almost double the number of usual winter flu vaccines, with the expanded programme incorporating everyone over the age of 50, schoolchildren and school staff amid concern there will be more of the virus circulating this year.
A vaccine will be offered to around 18,000 people.
Meanwhile as part of a national programme Covid boosters will be offered in the main to people over the age of 50.
In Shetland care home residents and others aged over 80 are among those who have been offered booster doses.
The booster programme is running alongside the flu vaccines.
Robinson also reminded people not to contact their GP practice regarding a vaccination unless they have been specifically advised to.
Meanwhile the health board chairman confirmed that NHS Shetland chief executive Michael Dickson will continue to share his role between the Northern Isles for the time being before a permanent replacement is recruited for Orkney.
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