Important information for Scotland

NHS Covid-19 hub

Scottish Government Covid-19 hub

If you are displaying symptoms of coronavirus there are certain circumstances in which you can apply for a test. Please visit the Scottish Government guidance and book a test online.

The national Covid-19 helpline puts people in contact with their local authority. You can call 0800 111 4000 for free. It is open Monday to Friday, 9:00–17:00.

Financial support:

• You can contact Money Talk Team to get help knowing what benefits you might be entitled to and other advice.
• You can apply for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance. The Scottish Welfare Fund is also available to people in crisis and in need of financial support.
• If you are struggling to pay your gas or electricity bills, Ofgem can offer you advice.

Physical and mental wellbeing:

• You can visit Clear Your Head for practical advice to deal with feelings of uncertainty.
• You can find help online from the Scottish Association of Mental Health.
• You can also talk to someone over the phone with Samaritans (116 123, available 24/7) or Red Cross (0808 196 3651, available everyday 10:00 – 18:00).
• The Scottish Government has compiled resources to support mental health and wellbeing which can be accessed here.

Other support:

• People who were on the shielding list can access information here here.
• Information on childcare can be found on the ParentClub website, which can be accessed here.

Shielding was a measure to protect people who are clinically at high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.

Now, people at the highest risk if they catch Covid-19 are to follow the same advice as the rest of the population.

The Scottish Government have produced advice on keeping safe which can be viewed here.

If you need help with transport to your vaccination or would like to request a home vaccination, please phone the Scottish Covid Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 (8am – 8pm).

The gap between Covid-19 vaccinations are being brought forward from 12 weeks to eight weeks across Scotland. You can rearrange your appointment here.

You can find more information about the Covid-19 vaccine here.

Covid-19 booster vaccine

The booster dose can be offered any time at least three months after your second dose. If you’re eligible, your flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines will be given at the same time, one in each arm.

You are eligible if you:

• are aged 18 and over
• are an adult aged 16 and over that put you at higher risk of severe coronavirus
• are an adult carer (aged 16 or over)
• a household contact (aged 16 or over) of immunosuppressed individuals

A booster dose is different from a third primary dose for people with a severely weakened immune system.

Third Covid-19 vaccination dose

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that people aged 12 and over who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of their first or second dose should be offered a third vaccine dose. This is separate from any booster programme.

These individuals will be identified by their Trust clinician or GP and invited in to receive a third primary dose. They will also be offered a booster dose at least three months .

Read more about the difference between the booster vaccine and third vaccine here.

Young people and children

Five to 11 year olds

The JCVI) has recommended the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine for high-risk five to 11 year olds and their household contacts. There should be eight weeks between the first and second dose. Find more information here.

12 to 17 year olds

Two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are reccommended for all 12 to 17 year olds. They can have a second dose eight to 12 weeks after the first. 12 to 15 year olds can book attend a drop-in clinic. 16 and 17 year olds can also book their vaccine appointments online or by phoning the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 (open 8:00 to 20:00, seven days a week).

All children and young adults aged 12 to 15 will receive a letter inviting them to attend their vaccination appointment.

Some children and young people are eligible for a third dose or a booster dose

Adults over 18

All adults aged 18 and over are eligible for vaccination. They can now be vaccinated at a drop-in clinic. You do not need an appointment and can go at a time that suits you. You can find your nearest drop-in clinic on the NHS inform website.

People are currently being advised to work from home if possible due to the Omicron variant. Find out more information here.

The Scottish Government has developed risk assessment guidance and tools to support employees and employers to have constructive conversations to identify individual risks and take appropriate action to make the workplace safer. Guidance on the assessment tools can be found here.

Mencap have pulled together resources and advice for carers who may be affected by Covid-19.

PPE

Scottish Government have produced guidance for accessing PPE.

If you are an unpaid/family carer and think you require PPE due to your caring role, and the routes you normally use to access it are unavailable, you should contact your local carers centre and they will advise you on how to access supplies locally.

You can find a list of local carers centres and young carer services on the Care Information Scotland website. If your local carers’ centre is unavailable, you can call the Social Care PPE Support Centre on 0300 303 3020 and they can provide you with information.

The SCVO provides a hub of information for charities concerned by the Covid-19 pandemic, including information on emergency funding and human resources considerations.