Health boards U-turn on plans to scrap drop-in vaccine clinics

Two NHS health boards have reinstated drop-in vaccination clinics – a day after announcing they were being scrapped.

On Friday, both NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde indicated there will be no further drop-in clinics scheduled.

The decision was quickly branded “extraordinary and dangerous” by opposition politicians.

Following the backlash, both health boards have now announced drop-in vaccinations will be available again.

In response to demand , we are running drop-in vaccination clinics for 1st and 2nd doses this weekend. Info: https://t.co/xWaDpYeCBl.

Drop-in clinics operate alongside appointment clinics and patients may have to queue. Please book your appointment online or call 0800 030 8013.
— NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (@NHSGGC) October 2, 2021

A spokesperson from NHSGGC said: “In response to demand from the public, we are now running drop-in vaccination clinics for first and second doses this weekend at centres in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“We are keen to make it as accessible as possible for people to receive their vaccinations.

“Our drop-in clinics will operate alongside our appointment clinics so patients should be aware they may have to queue.”

NHS Lanarkshire confirmed on social media that its drop-in clinics would run during the weekend and into next week.

A drop-in mobile vaccination unit will also hit the road next week to “reach parts of the community who may have struggled” to get to one of the vaccination centres.

Hi Eva, some drop in clinics have been arranged for today, tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday. Details are on this page of our website – https://t.co/yu6Fr7oZxA
— NHS Lanarkshire (@NHSLanarkshire) October 2, 2021

Dr Mark Russell, lead for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, said: “Our clinics are again becoming very busy with the autumn vaccination programme beginning.

“This weekend we have offered appointments to over 20,000 12 to 15-year-olds. A review of our staffing suggested that we may have some capacity to offer drop-in vaccinations for those who don’t have an appointment and have yet to receive their first or second dose.

“Drop in availability will be dependent on capacity and people attending without an appointment may be asked to return at another time. We will keep this situation under review and monitor the demand for drop-in clinics.

“From next week, we will introduce a drop-in mobile vaccination unit to help us to reach parts of the community who may have struggled to get to one of our vaccination centres.

“The mobile unit will offer the Covid-19 booster and flu vaccinations as well as first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for anyone who still needs to be vaccinated.”

For more information on the NHS Lanarkshire drop-in clinics, click here. And for more information on the NHSGGC drop-in clinics, click here.