First Caithness Covid-19 vaccine clinic hailed a success
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Around 400 patients were given Pfizer vaccinations at the first local clinic which was held in the games hall at Thurso High School on Saturday.
The first patient was former Rolls-Royce worker Pete Rodgers who encouraged others to take up the opportunity.
Describing the clinic as "hugely successful", Dr Alison Brooks, of the Thurso and Halkirk Medical Practice, said: "With my practice manager, Christine Tait, at the helm, and her very able team, the event was organised with professionalism and precision. Christine had thought of everything from access to parking and everything ran like clockwork.
"We vaccinated around 400 patients and we didn’t waste a single vaccine. Our first patient was Pete Rodgers. Pete is almost 85 and came to Caithness to work at Rolls-Royce. He was very enthusiastic about having his vaccine and would encourage others to do the same."
Dr Brooks, who recently voiced concern about the delay in local vaccinations, added: "Thurso High School was the perfect venue and the help given to us by the janitors, Trish on reception and the senior management team was greatly appreciated. We couldn’t have done it without them. We would hope to hold further clinics in the same location."
The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Caithness community started with people aged 80 or over on March 31, 2021.
Plenty socially distanced seating was made available in the games hall for patients who were required to wait for fifteen minutes after their appointments before leaving the venue.
Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss said: "It was very encouraging to see the car park at Thurso High School full on Saturday. I'm quite sure that hundreds of people will have left the school, having had their first injection, feeling much more hopeful and optimistic for the future.
"I'd like to also pay tribute to the extraordinary work that Dr Brooks and her team have done putting this all together in a short space of time. It shows a tremendous entrenched energy within the community and is a good example of Highland Council and NHS Highland working together with the council providing facilities at the high school.
"Thank you also to the volunteers who did the traffic control and stewarding within the school. I had asked the council to have the car park heavily gritted and salted if necessary but fortunately the weather wasn't as bad as had been feared."
Meanwhile in Wick, the Riverview Medical Practice will be starting clinics this week, with some patients having been given appointments for Saturday, while the Pearson Practice starts vaccinations next Monday (January 25).
Dr Ewen Pearson said: "Our colleagues in Inverness have told us there has been a high uptake of 98 per cent in vaccinations. I have had mine and I would certainly encourage people to take it.
"For our group one patients, our over-80s, practice staff and over-75s we have a total of 187 patients and we have been promised 160 vaccines. We are going to go by age, starting with the oldest patients and work our way down.
"Hopefully we will get more supplies in February, then we can increase the age group. We are asking people not to get in touch with us, we will contact patients."
To help improve social distancing the Pearson Practice will be using a one-way system with a new door now being used on that side of the Wick medical centre. It is thought that the practice will be receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Related news: Covid vaccinations to start in Caithness this weekend
Local doctor voices concern about delay of Covid-19 vaccines in county
