Flu Jabs, Piss-Ups and Breweries
The Scottish Government has been encouraging people between the ages of 55-65 to get a flu jab this year to help relieve winter pressures on the NHS.
Here's what the health minister Jeane Freeman said back on 7 August 2020;
“The seasonal flu vaccination programme helps to protect the most vulnerable and alleviate pressure on the NHS. This will be more important than ever this year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.“That’s why this flu season, we are extending free eligibility to social care workers who provide direct care, household members of individuals who are shielding, all those aged 55 and over, and those aged 50-54 if vaccine supplies allow.
“We want to reassure those who may now feel anxious about leaving home to get vaccinated. Getting the seasonal flu vaccine, especially when you have free eligibility, is one of the ways that you can support the NHS whilst protecting yourself and others this winter."
But the bad news is that there is no flu vaccine available for the younger age groups - even independent providers like Boots (which charged £13.99 for the service) have run out of supplies.
Flu Jabs, Piss Ups and Breweries (07/11/20)
I am a regular visitor to Spain and on a recent trip I came across this message from our local town hall:
Let's start flu vaccination for people over 65!Today it is the turn of people between 66 and 70 years old, in the municipal multipurpose room of the town hall.
Without prior appointment, from 9 am to 1 pm, all you have to do is bring your Health Card 😷
Now the local town hall looks after a population of less than 11,000 - yet compare this first class 'drop in service' service with the shambles of the equivalent vaccination programme in Glasgow.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board (GGCHB) covers 1.2 million people, the largest in Scotland by far, and was forced to apologise recently over the mess of its flu jab scheme which, for some reason, was taken away from the local GP network and handed to local Health and Social Care Partnerships.
The words 'piss up and brewery' spring to mind at the news that the flu vaccine roll-out will put the most elderly and vulnerable Scots at the back of the queue.
Piss Up In A Brewery! (14/10/20)
The words 'piss up and brewery' spring to mind at the news that the flu vaccine roll-out will put the most elderly and vulnerable Scots at the back of the queue.
Read the full story via the link below to The Herald.
Coronavirus: Anger over flu vaccine roll-out that will see oldest get jags last
By Helen McArdle - The Herald
EXCLUSIVE
Elderly patients are waiting weeks longer for flu vaccines this year despite warnings about the added risk from Covid
THE rollout of flu vaccinations across Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been dubbed an "an absolute shambles" after it emerged that the oldest Scots will receive the jag weeks later than normal, despite being the most likely to die from Covid and influenza.
Brian Sloan, chief executive at Age Scotland, said it has been inundated with calls from people in their 70s and older with health conditions who have yet to receive an appointment letter or are struggling to get through on the helpline.
EXCLUSIVE
Elderly patients are waiting weeks longer for flu vaccines this year despite warnings about the added risk from Covid
THE rollout of flu vaccinations across Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been dubbed an "an absolute shambles" after it emerged that the oldest Scots will receive the jag weeks later than normal, despite being the most likely to die from Covid and influenza.
Brian Sloan, chief executive at Age Scotland, said it has been inundated with calls from people in their 70s and older with health conditions who have yet to receive an appointment letter or are struggling to get through on the helpline.
