Our vaccination teams continue to forge on with the programme for Dumfries and Galloway offering first and second dose protection to all adults in the region over 18 and in recent weeks all 16 and 17 year olds.
One part of the programme that offered protection to 12 to 15 year olds with medical conditions putting them at risk should they contract the virus is now complete.
As at the 30th August 2021, a total of 95.4% per cent of adults aged 18 plus had received their first vaccination, and 89.5 per cent had received their second. 51.1% of 16 and 17 year olds have had the first dose of the vaccination and we will follow national guidance on the second dose for this age group.
Dr Nigel Calvert, Immunisation Coordinator, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said:
“We have seen excellent uptake in adults over 18 being vaccinated with the first and second dose. Our teams’ efforts in working to achieve as high a percentage as possible are paying off as we have now reached almost 100% with the first and 90% the second.
“We are really pleased to see that in the relatively short time we have been offering the vaccination to 16 and 17 year olds we have achieved 51.1% with the first dose.
“We continue to extend our thanks for the support shown for the programme as we work towards achieving the strongest defence possible against Covid-19 – that is the first and second dose for all who are eligible.
“An excellent uptake has been seen in the 18 to 29 age group, with 83.2% per cent having had their first dose, and so far 66.5% per cent their second. The efforts made by our vaccination teams to provide drop in clinics to suit as many people as possible looks to be helping achieve higher percentages week on week, in particular with the 18-29 age group.”
12 to 15-year-olds who are contacts of an immunosuppressed family member are still being encouraged to register for appointments or to come forward to a drop-in clinic.
There is no JCVI recommendation at present to vaccinate 12 to 15-year-olds with no ‘at risk’ health conditions.
Meanwhile plans are in place for the flu vaccination to begin from the second week in September.
Co-vaccination with flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines for care homes, and those who have medical conditions making them immunosuppressed, is planned to commence from late September.
This is in line with Scottish Government directions. Those directions will inform further planning for vaccinations within the region in the coming months.
