NHS Highland set to start Covid-19 vaccination programme

NHS Highland has confirmed that it intends to start the Covid-19 vaccination programme later this week.

Vaccinations are due to begin in Scotland from Tuesday after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority.

Dr Tim Allison, director of public health and policy for NHS Highland, reiterated that the health board had been working closely with the Scottish Government on the vaccine roll-out and that the process would take several months.

He said: "We are aiming to begin the vaccination programme later this week."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said last week that older residents in care homes would be among the first to receive a vaccination, along with those administering it, health and social care workers and those over 80 years of age

This follows guidance from the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination.

The first supplies of vaccine arrived in Scotland at the weekend and Ms Sturgeon expects the initial phase of the programme to be completed early in the new year.

One care home manager in Caithness said today: "We have no information at the moment, but are eagerly anticipating news over the next few days. We are all excited to receive the vaccine."

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