ALL eligible care home residents in Lanarkshire have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Abercorn care home in Hamilton was the first in Scotland to have residents vaccinated in December, with 90-year-old Annie Innes being the country’s first care home resident to receive the vaccine.

Since then, almost 2,990 Lanarkshire care home residents have been vaccinated.

Trudi Marshall, health and social care North Lanarkshire nurse director, who is managing the care home vaccination programme across Lanarkshire, said: “We very rapidly scaled up our nursing workforce and carried out detailed planning in a very short time to enable us to roll the vaccinations out to some of our most vulnerable residents.

“We have been vaccinating every day since we started the programme on December 14, and it has been hugely encouraging to see just how hard care home staff are working to keep residents safe.

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“They have worked closely with health and social care staff every step of the way to ensure residents are prepared for their vaccines. I’m also incredibly proud of our staff who have devised and carried out this vaccination programme so quickly and diligently.”

The first dose of the vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, will be followed up by the second booster dose 12 weeks later, in line with Scottish Government guidelines.

Trudi added: “I fully understand we’re all eager to get vaccinated, however I’d call for people across Lanarkshire to please be patient as we work through priority groups.

“What I must stress is that the vaccine is only one element in a wider range of ways we can keep ourselves and loved ones safe from – and cut down transmission of – Covid-19.

“It is essential that everyone, who can, continues to follow guidance closely.

“There is still a long winter ahead of us so please protect yourself, your loved ones and the NHS.”