PEOPLE aged 70-79 will be asked to come forward for their coronavirus jags from tomorrow.
The news comes as 76 more deaths were reported of people who have tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of five from the previous day. Those in intensive care have decreased by two to 159 patients.
A total of 1307 new cases have been registered, 173 fewer than the previous day, with a positive test rate of 9.3%.
The number of patients being treated in hospital with a recently confirmed case of Covid-19 is 2085, up from 2053 the previous day which saw an increase of 49.
The vaccination programme is continuing to be rolled out with the Scottish Government announcing that 380,667 people had received their first dose of the Covid jag and 5188 had received their second.
From tomorrow, blue envelopes containing an invitation to a coronavirus vaccine appointment for people aged 70-79 will start to land on doormats in several health board areas.
A new booking system is being used by health boards in Fife, Forth Valley, Ayrshire and Arran, Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lothian to schedule appointments for patients in order of priority.
More boards are expected to make use of the technology as the vaccination programme expands.
The distinctive coloured envelopes will be delivered to households as the programme progresses through the different groups on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list. The letters will include information on how to reschedule an appointment if it is not suitable.
All those aged over 80 are expected to have received their first dose of the vaccine by the end of the first week in February. No-one aged 80 or over should expect a blue envelope because they will be contacted directly by phone or letter.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman warned people to watch out for the letters.
“We all know how easy it is to ignore some of the mail which comes through our letterboxes but these blue envelopes will be very distinctive and they will contain details of your vaccine appointment so please open them,” she said.
“The letters are being posted First Class and we have been advised by the Royal Mail that the colour will allow them to prioritise delivery.
“I would urge everyone to take up their appointment when they are offered one.
“The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow. All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”
Meanwhile, a warning has been sounded that people in ethnic minority groups may be at risk because of a lack of translated public health information.
Concerns that misinformation about the jag is spreading has also prompted a call to community leaders to help counteract “vaccine hesitancy”.
Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council (Elrec) said that, so far, official translated information had not been made available to minority groups.
“People not being able to understand something is daunting as it is but if it relates to their health and wellbeing then it’s an actual risk to them,” said Elrec chair Foysol Choudhury.
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