New East Lothian Covid Vaccination Centre is open

East Lothian Covid Vaccination Centre is now open (1 February 2021). The centre, which is located at East Lothian Community Hospital, has been set up to supplement the work of the Mass Vaccination Centres in Edinburgh. It is staffed by East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) nursing and medical staff, retired doctors and volunteers.

In these challenging times, appointments cannot be allocated on the grounds of convenience; they have to be allocated in line with clinical and strategic requirements.

Here’s what you need to know

1. Attendance at the East Lothian Vaccination Centre is by appointment only. It is not a drop-in clinic and cannot vaccinate people who turn up without an appointment. Appointment letters are being sent out now to people in the appropriate priority groups.
2. Its role is to support the work of the Mass Vaccination Centres in and around Edinburgh and many people in East Lothian will still be asked to attend a Mass Vaccination Centre in the Edinburgh area for their appointment. These appointments are allocated centrally and you will only be able to change your appointment where there is a significant problem with the one you have been allocated (for example, if you have complex medical needs). In this case, we would ask you to phone the Covid Helpline on 0800 030 8013. Unfortunately, in these challenging times, appointments cannot be allocated on the grounds of convenience; they have to be allocated in line with clinical and strategic requirements.
3. It is really important to get your vaccination and if you are having difficulty with transport, paying for transport or have any other concerns, contact us at elhscp@eastlothian.gov.uk and we can direct you to sources of help.

Primary Care Vaccination Service Manager Krista Clubb said:

‘It’s great to have our East Lothian Covid Vaccination Centre now open for business.

‘Since early December when the Covid 19 vaccine first became available, our fantastic ELHSCP care teams have been hard at work prioritising vaccination of our health and social care staff and our care home residents.  Nursing and medical staff at GP practices across the county have also been doing great work with the rapid roll-out of vaccinations for people aged 80 and over, which is nearing completion. The vaccination centre wiill now begin to vaccinate those aged 70-74, and GP practices will begin vaccinating and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and people aged 75 and over.'

‘This is the biggest vaccination programme in history and involves a massive team effort from our staff and the community to deliver this as quickly and as safely as possible.

‘Please remember that whether or not you have had your Covid jab, it’s really important that we all continue to play our part by following the national guidance about facemasks, avoiding crowded places, handwashing, social distancing and self-isolating when necessary. And getting tested if there is any chance we may have Covid…’