GP services will not deliver any part of this year’s winter flu vaccination programme, it has been revealed.

Director of delivery and resilience in public health Anne Harkness confirmed NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) currently has no plans to include family doctors in the rollout, instead relying solely on coronavirus jag hubs.

The 19 hubs set up throughout the health board area are already responsible for providing doses of the three coronavirus vaccines.

Later in the year, the Covid-19 booster jags will also be offered from the same hubs, however, Harkness says it is the vast number of vaccines on offer at the hubs which make it the ideal one-stop-shop for those in need of the flu jag.

READ MORE: Glasgow patients' to travel to covid jag hubs for flu jab

It is hoped those eligible for both a booster and flu jag will be able to receive two vaccinations at the same time within the clinics.

Harkness said: “It’s an enormous campaign to do in a relatively short space of time.

“We’re using our community clinics because they’ve proved successful and popular ... anybody who walks through the door, we’ll check what they’re eligible for and absolutely give them a flu vaccination because we want to make it as easy as possible for people as we can so people don’t have to come back.”

So far, around 1.8 million people within the health board have opted to accept the coronavirus jag – which is around 89% of the over 16s – however, with last year’s flu vaccine uptake coming in at only around 50%, NHSGGC is keen to encourage eligible patients to take the jag.

This year’s rollout is set to be the largest on record with more than 700,000 people now able to receive the shot.

Staff at the vaccine hubs have been instructed to check all patients' eligibility when receiving any dose of the coronavirus jag and offer the flu inoculation to those who can take it.

Harkness said: “Certainly the number of [health care] staff that took up the appointments when the portal went live last week was very encouraging and our appointments are pretty full.”

Letters will begin to arrive on the doorstep of the over 70s next week and, in November, an online portal will be launched to allow all over 50s to make their own appointments.

READ MORE: Glasgow council staff isolate after covid rule confusion

Meanwhile, secondary school pupils will also be offered a coronavirus vaccine this year for the first time.

Harkness said transport concerns were the largest problem found when using the vaccine hubs, however, she said patients who are struggling should get in touch with NHSGGC who will be able to assist.

Health staff will continue to travel to those who are unable to leave their homes for medical reasons to carry out vaccines.