Community vaccination centres confirmed for Aberdeenshire

As the COVID-19 vaccination programme picks up pace, community venues for immunisation across Aberdeenshire are being finalised.

NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership will be operating centres in Macduff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Ellon, Inverurie, Huntly, Alford, Banchory and Stonehaven. The clinics in Huntly and Alford will work in rotation, week and week about. All other clinics will operate every week. In addition, work is ongoing to secure a mobile unit, to take vaccination to some of the most rural communities.

Appointments are already being scheduled for all centres and people in the 75-79 age bracket should start to receive their appointment letters in the coming days.

Angie Wood, Interim Chief Officer for Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership, said: “The roll-out of this vaccine will be one of the biggest undertakings that we have ever delivered. We have sought, when choosing the locations of our venues to, as far as possible, ensure that every clinic will be within roughly 10 mile drive.

“The rural geography of Aberdeenshire means that we will have 8 full-time mass vaccination clinics which will be supported by a mobile vaccination unit as well.

“We have also undertaken a huge recruitment drive and I am happy to say that we have been able to supplement our teams and that we are in good shape to start welcoming the over 75s in the very near future”

All centres are operating on an appointments only basis – there will be no ‘drop-in’ facility. In all cases people should attend appointments on their own unless they require the assistance of a carer. A carer may attend the appointment for support and both the individual and their carer should wear a face covering. COVID-19 safety measures will be in place in all venues and these must be adhered to, to protect both the public and the vaccination and venue staff. Appointment letters will contain information on travel to and from the relevant centre. People are encouraged to make every effort to arrange their own transport to clinics. Travel for medical appointments is classed as essential travel and car sharing (with precautions) is permitted. There is advice on car sharing available.

Each venue has been thoroughly vetted and has had to meet a number of criteria including location, size, availability of separate rest and changing space for staff, pre vaccination waiting area, post vaccination rest area, disabled access, suitable storage facilities, availability (we need to secure venues for at least 6 months) as well as separate entrance and exit.