Ambulance control room staff from Falkirk and beyond will get their COVID-19 jags

Unite Scotland called for the workers – along with NHS24 staff – to be given the vaccine immediately after the Scottish Government initially refusal to prioritise them because they were not “patient facing” employees.

Unite raised concerns potential COVID-19 outbreaks at SAS control rooms and NHS24 workplaces could bring the nation’s emergency response units to a shutdown.

The Scottish Government then agreed to defer the decision to SAS management who are now planning to vaccinate control room workers nationwide. The first vaccination was delivered today with a programme of further jags being delivered over the next four days.

Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish secretary, said: “Unite is delighted, following our pressure, the Scottish Government agreed to defer the decision for vaccinating control room workers to the Scottish Ambulance Service who agreed with us that all their workforce should be prioritised.

“It was a bizarre position for the Scottish Government to initially not prioritise the workers because they are not ‘patient facing’. Without them we don’t have an effective service so it’s a relief for the workers and we welcome that by the end of this week all control room staff will now receive the vaccination.

“The reality is if any outbreak of COVID-19 occurred among SAS control room staff or NHS24 workers then the nation’s emergency response capabilities could in effect grind to a halt putting lives at risk.”