People aged 70-79 in Fife and the Lothians will start receiving vaccine appointments on Monday

As well as Fife and the Lothians, the envelopes will be delivered to households across the rest of Scotland, as the programme progresses though the different groups on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list. The letters will include information on how to reschedule an appointment if it is unsuitable.

Residents were originally told to keep an eye out for a blue envelope dropping through their doors. However, this was changed to a white envelope on Sunday after it was announced that the ‘distinctive’ blue ones weren’t ready yet.

The Scottish Government confirmed that the blue envelopes are not ready and that white, windowed envelopes, with a black NHS logo on the right will be used temporarily instead.

It said the change has no impact on the vaccination programme timetable, with the first appointment letters expected to be delivered on Monday, 25 January as planned.

The Government says it is “on track” for all those aged over 80 to have received their first dose of the vaccine by the end of the first week in February.

People aged 80 or over will be contacted directly by phone or letter.

A new booking system is being used by health boards in Fife, Forth Valley, Ayrshire & Arran, Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lothian to schedule appointments for patients in order of priority.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The blue envelopes we hoped to use were not ready in time for the first tranche of vaccine appointment invitations so distinctive NHS branded white envelopes are being used as a temporary measure.

“The absolute priority remains the rollout of vaccinations and this temporary change to the envelope colour has absolutely no impact to our timetable.

“We continue to strongly urge everyone in the 70-79 age group to check all their post in the coming weeks and take up the offer of the vaccine when it is received.

“Patients may receive a phone call invitation from their local health board as part of the appointment process and all patients aged 75-79 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be invited via phone. ”

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