Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the Highlands 'going well' with all over-80s set to be reached by early February; NHS Highland says it also expects to have vaccinated thousands of people in frontline health and social care roles by February 5
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Health bosses in the Highlands expect the Covid-19 vaccination programme of over-80s to be completed by early next month.
A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said the programme was going well.
"Vaccinations in our care homes were completed on January 20, aside from those that have outbreaks, and we are on course to complete vaccinations for those over 80s by February 5," she said.
"We also expect to have vaccinated 25,000 people working in front line health and social care roles by February 5.
"This is a huge undertaking to deliver this programme across a large and challenging geography and huge thanks must be given to everyone who has been involved in this."
She said the vaccination programme had been opened for those in key priority groups such as NHS Highland frontline staff, with colleagues being asked to book in for their first vaccine.
"To ensure we are not wasting vaccine, our vaccinators also have a standby list of people they can call if there is leftover vaccine at the end of a clinic," she added.
"This is rare but on the occasion that it happens, rather than waste the vaccine dose, it will be given to an available member of staff who may be lower on the priority list."
Meanwhile, NHS Highland has updated its guidance on face coverings and masks.
The organisation is now asking that staff, patients and visitors in all hospital and care settings use provided Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks (FRSM) instead of face coverings.
The health board stressed guidance applied to all non-clinical and patient-facing staff when it is not possible for them to physically distance.
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