Personnel from the Royal Army Medical Corps have begun assisting the local COVID-19 vaccination campaign as the pace of the programme continues to increase.

Two teams of 10 British Army vaccinators are supporting the campaign in Fife as part of the planned expansion of the programme, with 12 large vaccination clinics now operational in Fife.

The military vaccinators will be based in two venues – East End Park in Dunfermline, and Templehall Community Centre in Kirkcaldy - and will be available to NHS Fife for the next two weeks. This arrangement follows similar assistance provided to a number of other Health Boards in Scotland.

The military has provided significant support to NHS Scotland since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing expert logistical, supply and relief planning support to support Health Boards across the country in the response to the virus. Locally, the British Army provided wide-ranging support to NHS Fife during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably supporting the Board’s Procurement and Transport teams in developing supply routes to get vital personal protective equipment (PPE) into the hands of frontline health and social care staff.

NHS Fife Director of Public Health, Dona Milne, said:

“Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the military have provided invaluable support to Health Boards in Scotland, and here in NHS Fife we are incredibly grateful for their ongoing commitment and expertise.

“The COVID-19 vaccination programme in Fife is now moving at a significant pace and it’s scale cannot be underestimated, with many thousands of local people being vaccinated each week. The assistance of the Royal Army Medical Corps in helping us to deliver a programme of this size is very much appreciated and will help hasten the efforts to protect some of the most vulnerable against COVID-19 and its effects.”

Spokesperson for the Joint Military Command in Scotland, Martine McNee, said:

"All members of the Armed Forces, working in support of NHS Fife are delighted to be taking part in the Kingdom's vaccination roll-out. The medics are from all over the UK and are enjoying the interaction with the public, as well as the fact that they are taking part in something historic, alongside their NHS colleagues."

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Fife, visit: https://www.nhsfife.org/coronavirus/

 

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