HEALTH chiefs in Ayrshire have axed their drop-in vaccination sessions for Covid boosters and winter flu jags.

The move comes as NHS Ayrshire and Arran begins its winter vaccination programme on Monday, combining both seasonal flu jags and Covid-19 boosters.

The health board says that it is expecting its mass vaccination clinics to be very busy from Monday onwards, and so is no longer able to offer the drop-in option to local residents.

From Monday onwards all residents will need an appointment to attend a mass vaccination clinic anywhere in Ayrshire and Arran.

To make an appointment, go to the national booking portal or call the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 to get a slot to attend for vaccine.

To check your eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations, including advice on how many doses you should get to have protection against the coronavirus, see www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/how-many-doses-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-am-i-eligible-for/

Lynne McNiven, NHS Ayrshire & Arran's director of public health, said: “Our teams have worked hard to make it as easy as possible for local people to attend for their Covid vaccinations and one element of that has been our very successful drop-in options.

"However, because the winter programme will see large numbers of patients being invited back to clinics to top up their protection levels, we anticipate the venues will be very busy from Monday, September 5.

"Therefore, we must ask everyone coming to our mass vaccination clinics to have an appointment.

"This will help us have the right number of staff and indeed the correct vaccine supplies on site to ensure everyone has the best patient experience possible and waits are kept to a minimum.

“My thanks go to everyone who has come forward for vaccination over the last two years, and to everyone who has helped ensure the success of this single largest public health programme we have ever delivered.

"It may be that we offer drop-in vaccinations once again at a later point in the autumn or over winter – please look out for local messaging regarding this."