Vaccine letters start for over 70s as blue envelopes delayed

Coronavirus vaccination appointment letters for Scots aged 70-79 will be delivered from Monday, but plans to use distinctive blue envelopes have been delayed.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman initially urged people to look out for the “very distinctive” blue envelopes, however on Sunday evening the Scottish Government announced that they weren’t ready.

White windowed envelopes, with a distinctive black NHS logo on the right, will be used as a temporary measure and are being given priority by Royal Mail.

The Scottish Government said the change will have “absolutely no impact” on the vaccination programme timetable.

According to its vaccine deployment plan, the 70-79 age group should receive their first dose by mid-February.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We continue to strongly urge everyone in the 70-79 age group to check all their post in the coming weeks and take up the offer of the vaccine when it is received.

“Patients may receive a phone call invitation from their local health board as part of the appointment process and all patients aged 75-79 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be invited via phone.”

A new booking system is also being used by several health boards to schedule appointments for patients in order of priority.

Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Lothian are among the NHS boards that will use the system.

Vaccinations for the over 80s are continuing, with that group on track to receive their first dose of the vaccine by the end of the first week in February.