DUMBARTON'S MSP has challenged the First Minister after 200 residents were turned away from pre-booked vaccine appointments in the town.

Jackie Baillie said she had been contacted by several angry residents who were asked to go home without receiving their booster jag after waiting in a queue at the Masonic Hall on Wednesday night.

Ms Baillie - who raised the issue at First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday - called on the Scottish Government to make appointments more accessible in the fight to beat the virus.

Describing what happened on Wednesday night as "unacceptable", Ms Baillie said many people have been unable to re-schedule their appointments and has called for more booster clinics to be established.

Ms Baillie told MSPs: "Yesterday, my constituents queued for up to two hours while waiting to get their booster jags.  They understand the need to get vaccinated, so they waited patiently.

"However, around 7pm they were told that they should go home as they would not be vaccinated that day. Some 200 of them were turned away—and they had appointments for 7.30 that evening. They have since been unable to rebook their vaccination appointments."

Asking the First Minister to investigate the situation, Ms Baillie said: "We can all accept that there will be glitches, but people in my constituency want to be vaccinated and they want to be vaccinated quickly."

In response to Ms Baillie's question in the Holyrood chamber, Nicola Sturgeon said: "For anyone who has an appointment and is unable to have that appointment fufufilled, they should phone the helpline as that is what is required. That is my advice.

"We are seking to do everything to avoid these kind of situations happening again.

"It is actually one of the reasons why we need a balance. If we just have drop-in clinics then people go and queue which is hard to match the supply and demand.

"I don't want people to be queuing, but if you turn up and there's a queue, wait and get your vaccination - it's important.

"We certainly don't want people to be turned away.

"This programme is a massive logistical effort that is being delivered in an excellent way by staff across the country.

"We will continue to support it as best as we can so that everyone who is eligible and comes forward gets a vaccination." 

Following Thursday's exchange in Parliament, Ms Baillie said: “It is unacceptable that local people who have made appointments to receive their vaccinations and boosters are being turned away. 

"I know how important being vaccinated is to local people so that they can protect themselves and others from the new covid variant.

 “I am glad that the First Minister agreed with me that people simply shouldn’t be turned away from centres and I hope that she urges the health board to put on more clinics to meet demand."

Ms Baillie is urging constituents to re-book appointments and is calling on concerned residents affected by Wednesday night's problems to get in touch.

The Reporter has contacted Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS for comment.