First vaccines delivered at new mass vaccination site at Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh

The snow brought by Storm Darcy that has battered the county, dubbed ‘Beast from the East 2’, did not stop the centre opening this morning as planned.

Mary Foster, from Musselburgh, was one of the first to receive a life-saving vaccine.

She said: “I think this is great, I’m really excited and I think people who don’t want to be vaccinated should think again.”

Mary Foster was one of the first to be vaccinated at the new centre at Queen Margaret University today (Wednesday)

The new vaccination centre, a first for the Lothians, has been set up in QMU’s car park with people being administered vaccines while remaining in their own car.

It can be accessed via the A1.

The QMU site will initially be capable of vaccinating about 720 people every day across 12 stations, seven days a week.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today it would vaccinate 4,000 people in its first week.

Pat Wynne, director of nursing for primary and community care at NHS Lothian, said: “The opening of our only drive-through mass vaccination centre is a big day for both NHS Lothian and for East Lothian.

"It is a unique site for us and it will allow us to deliver more vaccines to the people we serve.

“A significant amount of effort has gone into the preparation of the QMU site to ensure that the drive-through will run as quickly and smoothly as possible. I am extremely proud of the work undertaken by our staff and partners to get this site up and running and ready to receive patients.”

QMU joins other vaccine sites in the Lothian healthboard area including the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and Royal Highland Centre.

Smaller community clinics, such as the East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington, will deliver vaccinations for people with complex needs or who, for other reasons, cannot and would not be expected to travel to a mass centre.

A new mass vaccination site opened at Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh today (Wednesday)

Sir Paul Grice, principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “Queen Margaret University has a proud history of responding to some of the most pressing issues that face society.

"We are therefore pleased that our university can offer space for a drive-through vaccination facility which will serve our local communities.

“Supporting the country’s mass vaccination programme fits so well with Queen Margaret’s purpose of helping to create a better society and the value we place upon partnership.”

Paul McGirk, chief executive of Hub South East, NHS Lothian’s Development Partner, said: “We are delighted to be working with NHS Lothian in the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination centres across the region – surely one of the most important infrastructure developments in recent times.

“Our contractor, Morrison Construction, our designers and the rest of our supply chain partners pulled out all the stops to ensure that the QMU site was handed over safely, to a high quality and on time for its first patients to receive vaccines today.

“Following the opening of the EICC Centre last week, and with more set to open in the coming weeks, this has been a fantastic partnership effort by everyone involved.”

SEE MORE: Final preparations in place ahead of East Lothian Covid vaccine centre opening

SEE MORE: Drivethrough mass vaccination centre to open

Mr Wynne added: “We are now moving through our vaccination programme at pace. When you do receive an appointment, we would urge you to keep it, even if it is at a centre that seems far away from your home.

“In order for the programme to be successful we need to vaccinate as many people as possible and the easiest way to do that is for people to keep their original appointment.

“Our advice is straight forward – if we wish our lives to return to normal we need to vaccinate as many people as possible.  This will help save lives and provide protection to all our communities across Lothian.”

A new mass vaccination centre opened at Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh today (Wednesday)

Those who cannot keep the appointment they have been given are being asked to call the Covid-19 vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 or visit www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine to rearrange their appointment.

Those aged 75 and over should phone their GP practice to rearrange their appointment.

NHS Lothian has been working with councils, health and social care partnerships and other partners in recent weeks to deliver its mass vaccination programme.

Two new sites are expected to open in the Lothians on Monday (February 15), at Edinburgh Park in the former Royal Bank of Scotland building and Pyramids Business Park in West Lothian. Another site is expected to open at the Royal Highland Centre in March.