THE rollout of the new Oxford coronavirus vaccine is now under way in Inverclyde to protect over 3,000 residents over the age of 80.

Local GP practices have been supplied with supplies of the vaccine to help in the fightback against Covid-19.

Kilmacolm's New Surgery is one of the places running clinics, which follow on from the effort to vaccinate care home residents and frontline staff.

Delighted New Surgery patient Hazel Blyth, 86, was one of the first people to be inoculated yesterday.

Hazel told the Tele: "I am absolutely thrilled to get my vaccination.

"It is fabulous.

"It was no problem at all to get the jab, it all went very well.

"It has been a hard year for many people, but when you are our age you are at home anyway!"

Hazel was vaccinated in the Cargill Centre as the surgery team prepared to administer injections to as many patients as possible, with support from Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership.

New Surgery Kilmacolm practice nurse Morag McVie, who carried out the procedure on Mrs Blyth, is proud to be involved in the programme.

She said: "We are just delighted that we are able to get it all moving and roll out the vaccination.

"It all seems to be going really well and our patients are happy."

New Surgery Kilmacolm GP Dr Kim Stark says the start of the programme is offering hope to people after a very difficult 10 months.

She said: "We are very pleased.

"It has been a very difficult year for all patients in healthcare, both in GP practices and hospital.

"Our patients are very, very keen to get the vaccination.

"We all want to see this move forward and it is getting a very good reception.

"The clinic has been going very well."

There are around 3,200 people over the age of 80 who will be vaccinated at GP practices in Inverclyde.

The HSCP is working with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and local GP practices to co-ordinate the effort to protect senior citizens.

Councillor Robert Moran, Inverclyde’s health and social care convener, said: “This is another significant step in the fight against coronavirus.

“There’s no waiting about with the delivery of the vaccine to over-80s, which follows immediately after the completion of administering the first dose to residents in all 14 Inverclyde care homes last week.

“Our health and social care staff are doing an amazing job co-ordinating and delivering this mammoth vaccination programme, which is easily the largest in history, alongside their other incredible frontline work.”

*More information about the Covid-19 vaccination programme can be found at www.nhsinform.scot or by calling the national Coronavirus Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.