ADDITIONAL transport support is to be put in place in Lanarkshire to help people reach new vaccine "supercentres".
Shuttle services and amendments to existing bus routes to the hubs in Motherwell and East Kilbride will be introduced to ease concerns over the lack of direct links between parts of the health board.
It comes amid moves to close jag bases in towns such as Airdrie and Shotts by the end of the month with attention turning to the supercentres, which NHS Lanarkshire chiefs say will allow them to complete their vaccination programme two months earlier than originally planned.
READ MORE: Concern raised about vaccine hub closures in string of Lanarkshire towns
Dr Mark Russell, Lead for the covid-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, said: “Our updated plans will help us protect our communities as quickly as possible and support the wider NHS to keep other services running.
“More people being vaccinated quicker is the simplest and most important step we can take to help life get back to normal, faster.
"It would not be possible to do this without maximising our supercentres, so we’re asking for your help – if you can attend your appointment in a supercentre, please do so."
A small number of local centres – including in Coatbridge and Cumbernauld – will be opened from March 25 on a rotational, fortnightly basis.
The Ravenscraig Regional Sports Centre, in Motherwell, and East Kilbride's Alastair McCoist Complex were turned into the supercentres earlier this month.
Dr Russell added: "This leaves the local centres for those who absolutely need it. Attending your vaccination appointment is the most important journey you’ll make this year.
"Which is why we are asking our local communities to make an extra effort to attend for their vaccination as soon as they are invited.
“Our plans will remain flexible and we can adapt them to meet the needs of the service.”
NHS Lanarkshire is producing a vaccination centre travel guide, which will be published next week.
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