A 74-YEAR-OLD with multiple health conditions has been told she’ll have to take six buses to receive her flu vaccine.

Ann Booth has received her annual jab at Townhead Health Centre for years, however, the new centralised system means she will have to travel to Bridgeton. 

To reach the hub, which has been set up to allow the over 65s to receive their flu jab, 
Ann will have to travel on three buses there and back – despite Scottish Government guidance to avoid public transport. 

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Ann, who lives in Germiston, said: “I’ve only been out six times since March because I have underlying health conditions that put me at risk.

“I can’t believe what’s going on. It’s just horrendous. It’s horrendous for everybody, but I don’t understand how we get the jag every year and now we’re not when younger people are getting it.

“They’re saying my appointment, whenever I get it, could be a Saturday or Sunday. 

“If that’s the case, I don’t know how I would get there because not a lot of buses run on a Sunday.”

Ann lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stage three chronic kidney disease, asthma and bronchiectasis.

When the pandemic hit earlier this year, she was advised her age coupled with the health conditions gave resulted in a dangerous combination against coronavirus.

Since then, she’s focused on rigidly sticking to the nationwide and local restrictions to protect her health and, now, she fears she’ll be put at risk if she’s forced to travel further to the jab.

However, she’s equally concerned of what could happen if she waits any longer for the vaccine.

“I usually get it in October, but they’re saying it could another three or four weeks if I’m lucky,” she added.

“We were asked to stay in all those months, and we did, and now we’re hit with this.

“It’s a complete and utter shambles.”

She continued: “I’m very much nervous. 

“I’ve always taken the jag from it first started, but we were told not to go on public transport and don’t car share so what do we do?

“My son doesn’t even come in my house because we’re worried. I’m trying to keep safe, I want to come out of this when this is over and have a life for a few years yet, but this isn’t helping.”

While the Scottish Government guidelines insists public transport or car sharing can be used for essential travel, such as receiving your flu vaccine, Ann says the frequent messaging to avoid contact with others has left her too nervous to make the trip.

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We are working hard with national agencies to give people appointments as early as possible.  

“Although our plans meant everyone would be immunised in time for the flu virus starting to circulate we are very aware of concerns amongst particularly older members of our communities if they have not yet had an appointment date. 

“We have taken swift action to speed up the distribution of letters, so that all those remaining will now to be sent by National Services Scotland before the end of October.

Our team continues to do everything they can to support people who need to change their appointment should they be unable to attend the one they have been assigned.

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“We also understand that some members of the public have raised concerns about public transport and the ability to travel to their community vaccination centre. 

“We are working with community pharmacies to provide local alternatives in areas where transport may be an issue.”

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