AS one who has spent many months “shielding” against this virus and doing my utmost to comply at all times with the advice of the First Minister, I cannot help but find that the situation which appears to have arisen in my area is far from ideal.

The advice from the First Minister has, for some weeks, been that all those who have a place near the front of the queue for the flu jab should get it at the first opportunity. As someone who is getting through his ninth decade on this troubled planet, this apparently includes me.

READ MORE: Scottish health boards told to act fast to ease fears of flu jab shortage

I get a routine injection at my doctor’s surgery four times a year, and at this time of year I was also provided with the flu jab. When I rang them some days in advance to remind them of this, they said that won’t be possible as this year provision of the flu jabs has been taken over by the Forth Valley Health Board. They said that as far as they knew we would all get a letter and that we would probably be asked to attend a special day in Stirling at a date to be specified.

This hardly seems to be a move in the right direction. In my case it would mean a round trip by car of some 25 miles (great for the planet) followed by the need to find parking facilities and then the bringing together of all the most vulnerable in the same general space and time.

Surely it would have been better to have allowed the various group practices to give the jabs to such of their patients as were coming to their surgeries anyway, and thereby keep any risk of infection to the lowest possible level.

George M Mitchell
Sheriffmuir, Dunblane

DURING this unprecedented time of a coronavirus pandemic, at present increasing daily, we are advised to stay safe, including not to use public transport. It is unbelievable therefore to hear that to obtain a flu jab vaccination, all residents of Renfrewshire have to travel to the St Mirren football stadium in Paisley at a predetermined date and time. This is a location not easily accessible to most parts of Paisley, never mind the outlying villages.

For example, for the elderly in our village of Bridge of Weir without their own car this can mean travel on three separate buses: Bridge of Weir to Johnstone, a two-hourly service if it comes at all; Johnstone to Paisley; and Paisley to the venue. How long this will take in increasing inclement weather is anyone’s guess. Add to the above a return journey of similar duration. The chance of missing the appointed time and being told you are too late is very high, never mind the stress without even access to such as toilets, food or drink. Some may not even be able to undertake such a difficult journey and are not allowed to share a car with another household.

This is an unacceptable and dangerous policy that puts the people it is designed to protect at a greatly increased risk to health and possible life. Renfrewshire council must reverse this decision immediately, and if not be responsible for any person whose health is compromised as a result.

Helen & John Martin (70+ years)
Bridge of Weir

LIKE everyone else I feel angry and let down by the handful of politicians who are so hypocritical and self-entitled that they think the pandemic rules don’t include them.

However I remain astonished about that the fact that nearly 21 million people have flown into the country, with the vast majority having no tests done at all. This number does not include passengers who enter the UK on ferries.

Every one of these millions have continued their forward journey, in the main on public transport, and have spread out throughout the country. No wonder we now have growing infection rates in virtually all corners of the UK.

Why are no politicians, media outlets or the general public showing the slightest concern that these millions of people are travelling throughout the country unchecked but are willing to pillory the handful of politicians who do likewise?

Harry Key
Largoward

I WAS somewhat saddened to see The National join in the press “feeding frenzy” around Margaret Ferrier. It could have been reported in a less sensationalist, tabloid way. Margaret is the best MP we’ve had in this area for YEARS. She is hard-working and down to earth, NOT the arrogant superior Tory-type “one law for them and a different one for us” that some in the press have attempted to portray her as. To get rid of her by whatever means would be a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Is there anyone reading this who has NOT done something wrong or monumentally stupid in their lives and deeply regretted it? Her incredibly thoughtless behaviour has no bearing on her abilities as an MP and I’m sure I’ll not be the only one who’ll be sad if we lose her.

Barry Stewart
Blantyre

WHILE it was encouraging to see two articles from the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly in the Sunday National, the two pictures used certainly detracted from the stories. The main picture looked Episcopalian to me, more or less confirmed by the smaller one depicting the Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.

While some will want to discuss where the border should be in an independent Scotland, even I feel that to be pushing it a bit. It reminded me of some school reports: “must try harder”.

John C Hutchison
Fort William

I WILL be glad to see the back of the Presiding Officer. His “reprimand” to Oliver Mundell encapsulated the limp, obsequious and cringing approach towards erring MSPs which has characterised his tenure and brought the office of Presiding Officer into disrepute.

Joe Cowan
Balmedie