THE second wave of NHS Borders’ coronavirus vaccination programme has started, the health board has revealed.

In a statement issued at 11.02am today (Thursday, January 28), NHS Borders confirmed that all people in the region aged 80 or over will have been offered their first jab by February 5.

According to NHS Borders, a total of 24,000 people in the region will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine in the second wave of the programme’s roll-out.

Those eligible are:

  • All those 75 years of age and over
  • All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
  • All those 65 years of age and over

A spokesperson for NHS Borders said: “Over 11,000 people have received their first dose of the COVID vaccine in the Borders so far.

“This includes over 6,900 health and social care staff, all care home residents and over 4,000 people aged 80 and over. All people aged 80 and over will have been offered a vaccination by 5 February 2021.

“Wave 2 of the programme has now commenced.”

Vaccinations will be given at GP practices and some community venues, according to the health board.

People will be contacted to book their appointment. They should not contact their GP unless advised to do so, NHS Borders says.

The vaccination programme was officially rolled out in the Borders on December 8 – with NHS frontline staff and care home residents initially prioritised.

The region’s health board then turned to vaccinated people aged 80 and over in the week starting January 11.