And health bosses say most of that age group should have received their jab before the end of January.
The local focus will then move on to the 75-80s from February 1, with the 70-75 year cohort and those shielding scheduled for the second two weeks of February.
A total of 22 locations across the region, including town halls and community centres, will operate as vaccination centres and it is stressed that attendance is by direct invitation only, and people are instructed not to contact their GP or the NHS.
Valerie White is the area’s interim director of public health and she said: “It’s fantastic that the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine has also now been approved for use. It does not have the same storage and transportation requirements of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which was approved earlier in December, and this will really assist us in scaling up the vaccination programme in our communities.
“GPs across the region are taking on the work of identifying all those eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccination – as set out in the established Scottish Government criteria. Those people will be contacted directly.”
She also revealed that 2200 people who work or volunteer in health and social care across Dumfries and Galloway have now received their initial vaccination.
This number does not include residents and staff in care homes who received their initial vaccinations prior to December 24.
