NHS Orkney Vaccination Programme
LATEST UPDATES - March 2025
COVID-19 Spring Vaccinations
NHS Orkney is urging everyone offered a COVID-19 vaccine this spring to come forward, get vaccinated and stay protected - because COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared.
Last summer in Scotland, there were more than 10,000 reported cases of COVID-19 and over 4,000 people hospitalised.
This year’s spring vaccination programme is focused on protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19. This includes older adults in care homes, people aged 75 and over, and those with a weakened immune system, as they are at greater risk of illness from COVID-19.
If you’re invited for a COVID-19 vaccination this spring, it’s because experts know that your age or health condition mean you’re at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.
You get your strongest protection from the vaccine in the first three months after getting it. Over time, this protection gradually fades so, even if you had your winter vaccination, it’s important to get another dose this spring to reinforce your immunity and help keep you safe.
Elvira Garcia, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Immunisation Coordinator at NHS Orkney said: “Even if you feel healthy or your medical condition is well-managed, scientific evidence shows that older people and those with certain underlying conditions are more likely to get seriously ill from a COVID-19 infection. Getting vaccinated could mean the difference between a mild illness and a hospital stay.”
The spring vaccination programme runs from 1 April until 30 June. If you’re eligible and are patients of Skerryvore, Heilendi, Dounby, Daisy Villa, Westray or Sanday practices, you will be invited by letter, email or text message, depending on your selected communication preference. Other ferry linked isles and Stromness Practice patients will be contacted by their own practices.
If you wish to reschedule your appointment, you can, by using the online portal or via the National Vaccination Helpline (0800 030 8013). The helpline is open from 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am - 1pm on Saturday.
Find more information on the spring programme at www.nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine
Please make sure you check in for your appointment at Central Reception of The Balfour and you will be directed where to go.
Vaccines for Students
Make sure your vaccines are up to date
Infectious diseases such as meningitis and measles can spread easily in university and college communities. Vaccination offers the best protection against these diseases, which is why it's important to check your vaccines are up to date before returning this semester.
International students
If you’ve moved to Scotland from overseas, make sure you're up to date with the vaccinations offered for free by the NHS in Scotland. You may be able to get additional vaccines that were not available where you lived before.
MenACWY
The MenACWY vaccine offers protection against some of the common causes of meningitis. Students are at higher risk of meningitis, which can be severe and life-threatening. For more information visit Meningitis and septicaemia | Meningitis Research Foundation
MMR
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Parts of the UK and other countries in Europe have seen an increase in the number of people getting measles in the last year. Evidence suggests students are at higher risk than the general population and that is why it's important to check you've had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
HPV
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps protect against HPV-related cancers including head, neck and cervical cancer. It also protects against over 90% of genital wart infections. Most students will have had the HPV vaccine at secondary school but if not, you may still be able to get it up until the age of 25.
Find out more visit Vaccines for students | NHS inform
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
- NHS Scotland will contact you by letter. Please wait to be contacted.
- If your appointment time, date or venue does not suit or you can no longer attend, please rearrange via the online booking portal at https://www.nhsinform.scot/springvaccine or if you don’t have online access call the National Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013. Please note that there may not be availability earlier than your original appointment and you may need to reschedule to a later date instead.
- To schedule/reschedule a spring vaccine appointment for a child 6 months to 11 years, please call the NHS Orkney Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
- You can check eligibility and find trusted, accurate and reliable information that you need to make an informed choice for you or your child on NHS inform: nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/
- If you have not yet come forward for any COVID-19 vaccines or received a COVID-19 vaccination invitation letter, and you are 12 or over, you can register online for an appointment: Login - Customer Service (nhs.scot) . You need to be registered with a GP practice to use this service. If you aren't, you can phone the National vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.
Baby Immunisations
The Kirkwall Vaccination Team will deliver this service, and it will primarily be delivered within The Balfour for all Heilendi and Skerryvore patients. A visiting service will be provided by the NHS Orkney Vaccination Team to both Daisy Villa Medical Practice and Dounby Surgery. Patients will be invited by letter.
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries will provide this service to their patients
School Immunisations
The NHS Orkney Vaccination Team will deliver this service, and it will be delivered within the schools.
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note ferry linked isles provide this service to their patients
Pneumococcal
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries will provide this service to their patients
Shingles
Anyone in Orkney who is currently eligible for shingles vaccination has been invited. Letters to newly at risk patients are also sent throughout the year.
The NHS Orkney Vaccination Team delivers this service for the majority of Orkney residents and it is delivered within the Vaccination Service at The Balfour.
If you have missed your appointment or have any other queries please call the Vaccination Team on 0300 303 5313.
Please note Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries provide this service to their patients.
You can also find out more via the link here.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Pregnant women will be offered RSV immunisation from 28 weeks of their pregnancy. Individuals in Orkney that will be aged 75-79 years on 1 August 2025 will receive an appointment letter to be vaccinated by the NHS Orkney Vaccination Team.
The Vaccination Team can be contacted on 0300 303 5313.
Please note that Stromness Surgery and ferry linked isles surgeries will provide this service to their patients.
You can also find out more via the link here.
Travel Vaccinations
Please access the link below to find out more about Travel Vaccinations.
Visit the Travel Vaccinations Page