To date, NHS Orkney has vaccinated 48.2% of islanders with the 1st dose of the Covid vaccine and 4% with the 2nd dose.

From Monday, 15th of March, the Pickquoy Centre will be used for the largest mass vaccination programme yet.

For more information on the vaccination programme in Orkney please visit: NHS Orkney Facebook

Unpaid Carers

As Scotland’s Covid vaccination programme moves into the next phase a campaign has been launched so that unpaid carers do not miss out on their jags.

A new online service opens on Monday 15 March for unpaid carers aged between 16 and 64 who provide face-to-face care for a family member or friend. (nhsinform.scot/carersregister )

As well as online unpaid carers can phone the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

ALL UNPAID carers in ORKNEY aged under 42 can arrange an appointment by calling the Kirkwall Vaccination Centre on 0300 303 5313.

Scotland’s Vaccination Stats

By 7:30am on Saturday 13 March:

• 1,867,123 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccination and 156,250 have received their second dose

41.1% of Scots have now had their first dose of the vaccine with 3.4% fully protected with the second dose.

In Care Homes:

• 95.6% of residents have had 1st dose, 69% 2nd dose
• 94.6% of staff have had 1st dose, 57.4% 2nd dose

Frontline Health Care Workers: 79.6% 1st dose, 34.3% 2nd dose

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Adults: 91.7% 1st dose, 3.1% 2nd dose

As this weekend saw the easing of some restrictions in mainland Scotland and Primary School children all returning on Monday, the test positivity rate is at 3.1%.

There was more hopeful news on Friday when research was published on lower transmission rates after vaccination.

Encouraging News on #Covid Vaccine in Preventing Transmission

It is really important that people continue to follow FACTS

• wear a face covering
• avoid crowded places
• clean hands and surfaces regularly
• stay 2m away from other people
• self-isolate and book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms (new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste)
• download the Protect Scotland contact tracing app

Reporter: Fiona Grahame