Target date confirmed for Falkirk's mass COVID vaccination programme

The programme is already underway, and all health and social care workers, all people over 80 and all care home residents should have been vaccinated by January 21.

The next phase - to be delivered between February 21 and March 21 - will see all those age 65 and over receive the vaccine as well as those who are younger but at risk.

The final phase, which they hope will be delivered between Apr 21 to Jul 21 will firstly see those aged 50 to 65 and then the rest of the population aged over 18 get the vaccine.

NHS Forth Valley has asked Falkirk Council for potential support in providing venues as well as administrative support and clerical staff who can help with booking clients in.

The council could also help with site management such as marshalling and cleaning as well as possible transportation requests for those who cannot get to vaccination centres.

Falkirk Council's chief executive, Kenneth Lawrie, said: "It's going to a huge logistical exercise and local government has been very clear that it wants to play its full role in making that a success.

"I think that with both health colleagues and at government level, the ability of local government to do that has really been recognised.

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"It's going to be a big challenge for us in the next six months or so and we're absolutely determined to play a positive role in that."

Phase one has been delivered at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, in care homes, at home for the most vulnerable.

Other venues being used include Falkirk Town Hall, Grangemouth Town Hall, Bo’ness Town Hall and the Dobbie Hall in LarbertFor the next phases, additional venues will be needed but these have not yet been identified.

The council and NHS are also looking at setting up Community Asymptomatic Testing sites similar to one that was set up at Clackmannanshire recently, although this has yet to be confirmed

The timetable for delivering the vaccines is dependent on the availability of the vaccine.

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