NHS Forth Valley rolls out COVID-19 jags for under 50s

Appointment letters have been posted to people in this age range and, in Forth Valley, vaccinations will continue to be delivered in a number of community hubs, including the Falkirk of Forth Valley College.

This follows the successful delivery of vaccine programme to people in all nine priority groups, which was completed in Forth

Valley ahead of the national mid-April 2021 target.

More than 157,000 people – 61 per cent – across Forth Valley have now received their first COVID-19 vaccine, while more than 54,000 – 21 per cent – have received their second doses.

Work is now underway to contact and arrange appointments for anyone in the priority groups who may have been missed or were unable to attend their appointment earlier this year.

MHS Forth Valley states it is important to get two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to provide longer-term protection.

Jillian Taylor, operational lead for NHS Forth Valley’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, said: “We are now moving forward to vaccinate people aged under 50, starting with the 45 to 49 age group, then moving downwards to eventually encompass all adults over the age of 16 with a target date of July 31, subject to vaccine supplies.

“We have had a fantastic uptake from local people in the first nine priority groups and we would like to thank everyone who has come forward for vaccination over the last few months.

"The effects are already being seen with a fall in the number of positive cases and the number of people requiring treatment in our hospitals for COVID-19. We would

ask people to be patient as we continue to work through the remaining groups and to remember to continue to follow the national guidance even after you have been

vaccinated as it’s not yet known whether this prevents you from catching the virus or passing it to other people.”

Everyone who has received their first vaccination should automatically be contacted with details of their second appointment within 12 weeks. However, anyone who hasn’t received details of their second vaccination appointment at 11 weeks should contact NHS Forth Valley’s COVID-19 vaccination helpline by e-mailing

[email protected] or calling 0800 130 3120.