THREE community vaccination hubs in Renfrewshire welcomed their first visitors this week as part of the fight against coronavirus.

Thousands of people are expected to get the free jab at Johnstone Town Hall, Renfrew Leisure Centre and Paisley’s Lagoon Leisure Centre in the coming weeks.

It comes at a time when the tragedy caused by Covid-19 passed a grim milestone in Renfrewshire.

The virus has now claimed more than 400 lives in the local area, according to latest figures released by the National Records of Scotland.

A further 20 fatalities took place in Renfrewshire during the week ending January 24, bringing the local death toll since the pandemic began to 406.

This covers all fatalities registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate and, as this includes suspected or probable cases, it differs from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government.

The vaccination hubs opened their doors on Monday morning, with the majority of visitors aged in the 70 to 74 age group.

Residents aged 65 to 69 will be next to receive a letter inviting them to be vaccinated at the centres, with other age groups to follow at later dates.

NHS staff are running the vaccine rollout, with workers from Renfrewshire Council and Renfrewshire Leisure operating the hubs.

Archie Conroy, from Paisley, was among those to get the jab on Monday, after paying a visit to the Lagoon.

He told The Gazette: “I didn’t feel a thing. Getting vaccinated is the only way we’ll get out of the pandemic and get things back to being more normal than they are just now.”

John Steele, also of Paisley, added: “When you think about all the deaths that have been happening, if people are offered the vaccine they should definitely take it.”

Those eligible for a Covid jab will receive a letter from the NHS with details of the location, date and time of their appointment.

Dr Linda de Caestecker, director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has urged residents not to attend the new centres without an appointment.

She added: “We also kindly ask for people to only arrive shortly before their appointment. We need to maintain social distancing at all times.”