NHS Lanarkshire has begun inviting those aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers to roll up their sleeves for their coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations. 

Those eligible will be invited by letter as we work through the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) list of priority groups to vaccinate those most at risk of COVID-19.

Those who normally receive the free flu vaccine and who are also on the list of underlying conditions for the COVID-19 vaccination will be offered the vaccine first alongside unpaid carers who receive carers’ benefits or who have been identified by GPs.

We will then work through the remaining list of those who have underlying health conditions but who do not receive the free flu vaccine. 

Carers who do not receive carers benefits, and who have not been identified by GPs, will be asked to come forward to register for their vaccine soon through online self-registration process or by calling the national vaccination helpline.

Dr Mark Russell, Lead for the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, commented: “The priority group of underlying health conditions and unpaid carers is the largest group that will be vaccinated for coronavirus. We would ask people to therefore to be patient as we work through this list and maximise the number of vaccinations we can complete in line with the vaccine supply available.

“With the high uptake of the vaccine, lower supply of vaccines than had originally been anticipated and keeping vaccines back to fulfil second doses, it will take us several weeks to work through this group.

“We would also ask that if you are invited forward for the vaccine that you please get it. It provides the best protection against coronavirus.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:

“The age range of people in this cohort can be as young as 16 and their underlying condition may not be obvious to the outside world. I would stress that the offer at this time is based on a clinical judgment so we would strongly encourage people of all ages to take up this offer should it come.

“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.” 

JCVI priority group 6 includes people aged 16 to 64 with the following conditions:

• a blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
• diabetes
• dementia
• a heart problem
• a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
• a kidney disease
• a liver disease
• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as HIV infection, steroid medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy)
• rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or psoriasis (who may require long term immunosuppressive treatments)
• who have had an organ transplant
• have had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• a neurological or muscle wasting condition
• a learning disability*
• a problem with the spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or those who have had their spleen removed
• have a BMI of above 40
• are severely mentally ill

* Following further consideration, Scottish Government, with the agreement of the Chief Medical Officer, has made the decision to include anyone with a learning/intellectual disability in group 6.

This means people with mild, moderate, severe or profound learning/intellectual disabilities will be offered vaccination in group 6, if they haven’t already been offered vaccination in an earlier group.  This does not include people with learning difficulties such as dyslexia or ADHD.