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COVID-19 Vaccine Programme

Why it’s important to get your COVID-19 vaccine

Coronavirus can be serious, especially for those in an at risk category (please visit NHS Inform for further details). 

Getting the COVID-19 vaccinations you are eligible for offers the best protection for yourself, and may help to protect your family and those you care for.

NHS Scotland strongly recommends you get the vaccines offered to you.

Winter COVID-19 Booster Programme

The NHS Ayrshire & Arran winter vaccination programme began on Monday 4 September 2023.

Those at the most risk from serious coronavirus illness will be eligible for a further COVID-19 booster this winter to help maintain their protection. Final advice on eligibility was issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI) on Tuesday 8 August 2023. You can click here to read the details regarding both the seasonal flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine offer this autumn/winter. Some people will be eligible for both vaccinations.

People should wait for NHS Scotland to contact them with details of their appointment. Depending on their selected communication preferences, this will be by email, text, or by post in a white, NHS Scotland branded envelope, which replaces the blue envelopes used previously. Remember you may receive your invitation at a different time than in previous years.

Update – 18 October 2023

If you’re eligible for both a flu and COVID-19 vaccine this winter and have received either of these separately at an earlier appointment, your upcoming appointment (to receive the other vaccine) may unfortunately show as being cancelled on the booking portal. This is because the system has recognised you as being fully vaccinated this winter after your first appointment. We are working to resolve this issue, but in the meantime, if you are still able to, please attend the original appointment date and time you were given, or alternatively you can call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 to rearrange.

Newly at risk from coronavirus?

From 1 July 2023 those aged 5 to 49 years are no longer eligible for any coronavirus vaccines, unless you develop a condition that puts you at greater risk of coronavirus illness, including pregnancy. If you enter an at risk group, you can book an appointment online or phone the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013. To arrange an appointment for a child age 5 – 11 years who has entered an at risk category please call 01563 826540 to arrange.

COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women in Ayrshire

If you are currently pregnant you are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations because pregnancy is regarded as a category that puts you at greater risk from coronavirus illness. The vaccines are strongly recommended in pregnancy as they are the best way to help protect you and your baby from the known risks of the viruses.

Please click the link for further information regarding vaccines in pregnancy: https://www.nhsinform.scot/vaccinesinpregnancy

Vaccine Drop-in Clinics

If you are due your COVID-19 booster and/or seasonal flu vaccine you can get it without an appointment at a local drop-in clinic. Drop-in vaccine clinics will be running in Ayrshire at the venues and times stated below and can cater to eligible groups aged 12 years and over:

Wednesday 27 March

  • Skelmorlie Community Centre, Skelmorlie, 12.45pm – 4.30pm

Thursday 28 March

  • Nethermains Community Centre, Kilwinning, 9am to 4.30pm
  • New Cumnock Town Hall, New Cumnock, 9am to 12.00pm

Friday 29 March

  • Galleon Centre, Kilmarnock, 9am to 4.00pm

Saturday 30 March

  • Girvan Community Hospital, Girvan, 9am to 2.30pm

Choosing how you’d like to be contacted

You can now update your contact details and your preferred method of contact on the online portal. If you select to receive future correspondence about your COVID-19 and flu vaccines by email or SMS then you will no longer receive future letters with this information.

Attending your COVID-19 vaccination appointment

Travelling to your appointment

By public transport: Use the Traveline Scotland website to plan your journey and to get advice on using public transport safely. Click here to visit the Traveline Scotland website.

Alternatively you can contact Traveline by phone. Vaccination Related Public Transport Enquiries number (staffed 24 hours, 7 days per week) is 0141 465 1878.

If you have a specific transport issue in relation to getting to your COVID-19 vaccination you can also call 01563 826540 for advice.

Interpretation services 

For those whose first or preferred language is not English, it is the responsibility of NHS Ayrshire & Arran staff to provide interpretation support for individuals attending for vaccination.  Interpretation support is available for those who speak community languages or those who are deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL).

Spoken community languages:  Language interpretation support for spoken community languages can be provided via Language Line telephone interpreting services.   When an individual attends the vaccination clinic they can request support via Language Line and the member of staff will arrange this. 

British Sign Language (BSL): In order for a BSL interpreter to attend with an individual at the vaccination centres, contact should be made in advance to request an interpreter to attend.  The contact number for this is 0333 344 7712 and staff will arrange this with our service provider Sign Language Interactions in advance of attending.

Rescheduling your COVID-19 vaccination appointment

Appointments are generally allocated at the vaccination centre that is closest to your home postcode.

If you have received your appointment letter but the date, time or location of your appointment is unsuitable you should rearrange your appointment.

You can rearrange your appointment online or by calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 available Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm and 9am – 1pm on Saturday.

Recently changed address?

Please update your address details with your GP practice – this will help to ensure your scheduled appointment for vaccination reaches you at the correct location. If you have missed your vaccination appointment because of this you can reschedule online or by calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

Vaccinations for housebound patients

NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Mass Vaccination Service will begin delivering winter vaccinations (COVID-19 booster and seasonal flu) to those who are housebound from Monday 16 October 2023.  For those eligible citizens who are housebound, the mass vaccination service will contact you to arrange a home visit.  This winter, we aim to complete all housebound vaccinations by the middle of December 2023.  If you are housebound and have not been contacted by mid-December, please call the national helpline 0800 030 8013.