NHS Borders says it ‘welcomes’ the news that extra military support will be drafted in to help under pressure services.

Last month the health board announced that 20 army personnel would be aiding acute services, with a military driver providing transport.

And now six extra members of the armed forces – five vaccinators and one nurse – will be brought in to assist in the region.

An NHS Borders spokesperson said: “We welcome the support from military colleagues to work in partnership with our vaccination staff in helping facilitate the swift delivery of our flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes.

“We continue to urge people to come forward when invited to receive their vaccines which provide Borderers with the best protection against flu and COVID-19.”

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More than 100 military personnel will be drafted in across Scotland to help with the vaccination roll-outs.

Health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are now in the midst of an extremely busy period for the national autumn/winter vaccination programme with flu and COVID-19 booster injections being offered to the most vulnerable groups, alongside first COVID-19 jabs to 12-15-year-olds.

“With increasing levels of social mixing and close social contact in the colder months, it is expected that COVID-19 will add to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS.

“That is why we have again requested military support to complement our existing resources and to ensure we can get even more vaccinations into arms as quickly as possible.

“It remains clear that getting vaccinated is the single most effective step that anyone can take to protect themselves from the most severe disease caused by COVID-19.”