AN asthmatic 83-year-old who is suffering from cancer and is on oxygen is still waiting for her annual flu jab.

Greenock OAP Ivy Siegfried, a community activist who campaigns on elderly people's issues, has slammed the 'shambolic' way the vaccination programme - which has been changed this year due to Covid-19 - is being run.

She received two letters from the Scottish Government, one in September and the other this week, saying she is at high risk from coronavirus and in stressing the importance of getting a flu jab.

Yet she is still waiting on an appointment from the health board.

Ivy, of Dunlop Street, said: "It's a shambles.

"Why change something that worked?

"I got my flu jab every year without fail in October.

"You would have thought I would have been a priority.

"People in the government, the chief medical officer, seem to think I'm a priority.

"It says so in these letters.

"The letter said if you haven't received an appointment letter to call your doctor.

"I tried calling and sat in a queue for 15 minutes and got so upset I had to hang up."

Other people have contacted the Telegraph to complain over the way this year's programme is being handled.

A mass vaccination scheme was introduced for over-65s in community venues this year, to allow for the required two metre social distancing restrictions in place due to coronavirus.

A 92-year-old man who lives on the Esplanade also told us how he is still waiting for an appointment.

Harvey Peacock said: "It's awful.

"I would have thought elderly people would have been priority, people in my age group.

"I normally have had my vaccination by now, and in some years as early as September."

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have now publicly apologised for the fiasco.

They said they were aware of the anxiety felt by those in the 65+ age group who are yet to receive their flu vaccination.

Jane Grant, chief executive, said: “On behalf of the health board, I would like to sincerely apologise to all those people who have experienced issues with their flu vaccination appointments.

"We are very sorry for any distress and anxiety this has caused, especially among the more vulnerable members of our local communities.

“There have been a number of challenges with the delivery of the flu vaccination programme and we have taken action to ensure this situation never happens again.

“We would like to offer reassurance to those in the 65+ year old age group who are yet to receive their flu vaccination that all remaining letters will be sent this week and you will have your appointment scheduled to take place before the end of November, before the flu season starts between late December and January.

"We understand that many people have struggled to get through to our appointment line and we are very sorry for that.

"We have now employed an additional 20 call handlers to manage enquiries so that more people can be supported in a more timely way.

“The flu vaccination programme has been especially challenging this year, due to the increased number of eligible people and because it is vitally important that we adhere to physical distancing guidelines when administering vaccinations.

"However, we will make sure that we learn the lessons from what has happened this year and put measures in place to avoid these issues being repeated."