More than 840,000 vaccine doses have been dished out in Ayrshire and Arran, according to a health chief.
Claire Burden, the new NHS Ayrshire and Arran chief executive, spoke of her pride at the way her staff have administered the vaccines — and the way they’ve reacted to the two-year pandemic.
In a statement, reflecting on the work carried out since the deadly virus came to our shores, Claire said: “At the beginning of 2020, when we first heard the news from Wuhan, China, about the novel coronavirus, it was impossible to imagine how this would impact on our daily lives here in Scotland.
“Yet, here we are two years on and our lives have been changed beyond recognition.
“So far, we have administered 843,690 (as of Thursday, March 24) vaccines to people in Ayrshire and Arran. This includes first, second and third dose vaccines.”
Ms Burden warned, however, that NHS Ayrshire & Arran still remains under “emergency planning conditions” as they treat new Covid-19 patients every day.
She said: “As cases in our local communities continue to rise, this clearly adds to the constant pressure throughout our health and care system across the whole of Ayrshire and Arran.
“Our hospitals have been operating at full capacity since November 2021 and there has been no abatement as we work into 2022, as each Covid-19 variant brings new waves of patients.
“We remain under emergency planning conditions but are focused and determined to work collaboratively with system partners as we work to decongest our bed-based care pathways.”
Ms Burden also said the delivery of the vaccination programme had been “phenomenal” and praised all those involved in the success of the rollout.
She said: “Since the first vaccines were administered in December 2020, we have embarked on the biggest vaccine programme in our history, which now includes everyone over the age of five.
“The delivery of our vaccination programme has been phenomenal, and I want to thank those working in our vaccination teams in helping us take forward this vital programme.”
She added: “Please remember it is never too late to get your vaccine. If you have not yet taken up the offer, or if you have yet to get your booster vaccine, please look out for details of drop-in clinics.”
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