5 March 2021

Since our Covid-19 vaccination programme commenced in December 2020 we have vaccinated around 45% of the adult population in the Borders.

This has been made possible by the huge team effort from everyone involved from planning the programme to delivering it. As part of this work our teams have worked collaboratively with our local GP practices to vaccinate those most vulnerable in our first two vaccination Waves.  

In December local GPs and their teams worked with our District Nursing teams to vaccinate care home residents and staff before vaccinating those aged 80 and over as part of Wave 1.

Many practices then assisted us in delivering Wave 2 of the programme, vaccinating those in the following priority groups as set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation:

  • all those 75 years of age and over
  • all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
  • all those 65 years of age and over

Nicky Berry, Director of Nursing and Operations at NHS Borders, and Executive Lead for the Covid-19 Vaccine Programme, said: “Teamwork has been the key component that has underpinned the success of our programme thus far. I would like to thank our GP colleagues and their teams for their assistance in helping us to vaccinate our older population as quickly as possible in the practice setting. It is incredibly important that everyone gets vaccinated but it goes without saying that many people will have let out a sigh of relief when older members of their family received their first dose.”

Tim Young, Local GP and member of the COVID vaccination Programme Board, said; “Prior to vaccinating people there had been a massive amount of work from staff across the Health & Social Care Partnership to get us to that stage. Once we started vaccinating people the programme accelerated fairly quickly from there. The response from the public has been superb, we have had really high uptake rates in the Borders so far and it is clear that the people really value the offer of the vaccination.

“Practices in the Borders will start administering second doses from early April in line with the national dosing schedule. Some practices opted to schedule patients second dose appointments whilst they were in getting their first dose, whilst others will contact their patients when it is time to come forward. For now I would like to ask people to stay safe and remain patient. If you are waiting to receive your second dose appointment please be assured that you will be contacted by the team who gave you your first jab nearer the time, please do not call your practice unless advised to do so.”

If you are in the following groups and have not been offered an appointment please visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/invitations-and-appointments/missing-appointment-details for details about how to enquire about your appointment, please do not call you practice.

  • Care home residents
  • Those aged 65 and over
  • Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (previously shielding)

Up to date information about our vaccination programme including details about our rollout plan and announced Waves is available here: /covid-19-vaccination

For further information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme visit: www.nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine