EVERY eligible elderly care home resident in West Dunbartonshire has received their second Covid-19 vaccination, according to health and social care officials.

Vaccinations begun in care homes on December 8 and it now means that more than 6,000 residents in 143 care homes in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area have received the final dose of the jag.

The numbers represent 90 per cent of all elderly care home residents in West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow City - with the exception of 10 per cent who were unable to be vaccinated initially due to ill health.

It has also been revealed that all frontline, health and social care workers eligible for the Covid vaccine have now had their first dose.

Clinics remain open for any staff in the area who still require a vaccine.

Jo Gibson, head of health and community care, told a meeting of the West Dunbartonshire health and social care partnership’s board: “We have been in a very challenging period, but the roll out of the vaccination programme is our route out of this challenge and the light at the end of the tunnel.”

It was also confirmed that residents over the age of 80 have who were inoculated at their local GP practice have been fully vaccinated.

In January, health officials opened up three mass vaccination centres in the area - the Concord Centre in Dumbarton, Alexandria’s Community Centre, and the Hub in Clydebank – which are open seven days a week, with extended hours available and can accommodate up to 12 vaccination stations every day.

Ms Gibson added: “We have made great progress so far and now have begun vaccinating over 65s.

“We are now working all individuals with underlying health conditions.

"It is a change for the population in understanding we are no longer going down in descending age groups, but we continue to communicate with the public.

“There has been some turbulence in the UK about the supply of the vaccine.

"The number of days we have been opening has not been as high as previous weeks, but we continue to be open and we continue to work to ensure that we understand what the supply will be in future days and weeks.”

Jane Grant, the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “This is fantastic news. We all know the impact that Covid has had on our elderly communities and, while there is much still to do to beat this virus, I want to congratulate everyone who has been involved in rolling out the vaccine.