Time lag for second jab

NHS Lanarkshire has admitted that a planned three week wait for the second jab of the first vaccine to be issued could turn into 12 weeks.

The confirmation comes after media reports last week which stated that patients would face a longer wait to receive their second shot of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

However, health bosses have told this newspaper that it is all for the best in the long-term as it will enable more patients to target a very particular group of workers whose charges need protecting.

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Dr Mark Russell, Associate Medical Director, Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: “NHS Lanarkshire is continuing the roll-out of the covid-19 vaccination to priority groups, including patient-facing healthcare staff and care home staff and residents.

“ In line with national guidance, we have postponed all second dose vaccine appointments to 10 to 12 weeks after the first.

“We are now using these additional appointments to vaccinate eligible social care staff.

“Minimising wastage of the vaccine is a priority and we do not anticipate that recent changes will affect this.”

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Meanwhile, readers are being asked to be on their guard if they receive a text message claiming to be from the NHS telling the recipient they have been selected to receive the vaccine.

The “very convincing” text leads to a link whichgoes on to ask for bank details, -supposedly for purposes of verification- but has been identified as a Scotland wide-scam.

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