HEALTH chiefs in Lanarkshire have pleaded with locals to roll up their sleeves and give the area’s vaccination programme a shot of staying on track.
NHS Lanarkshire bosses are asking locals to not turn up early for their Covid jag appointment, with residents being told they will be made to return closer to their allocated time.
It comes shortly after we reported concern over large queues outside vaccination hubs, which saw people forced to wait hours for their jab in Motherwell.
READ MORE: Lanarkshire health bosses move to allay fears over transport links to Covid vaccine centres
The town's Ravenscraig Regional Sports Centre recently became one of the health boards two "supercentres" – the other in East Kilbride – but it's understood similar waiting times occurred at smaller, local venues.
Dr Mark Russell, lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, said: “In the next two weeks we will be vaccinating around 100,000 people, this is 7,000 people a day across all of our vaccination clinics.
“Our clinics will be busy, so we are asking the public for their continued support in helping our clinics run as smoothly as possible.
"Please do not turn up early for your appointment – if you turn up early, our staff will ask you to return closer to your allocated time.
READ MORE: Lanarkshire health chiefs apologise after people made to wait hours for Covid jag
"This will help to avoid queues building up and make sure your appointment runs as smoothly as possible.”
Health chiefs say they are on track to administer 500,000 vaccines soon and say everyone aged over 50 has now been issued with an appointment.
Dr Russell added: “I would like to thank the hundreds of staff involved in this vaccination programme and also the member of our communities who are continuing to roll up their sleeves to help Lanarkshire return to normal.
"Please remember to stick to the FACTS guidance, even after you have been vaccinated.”
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