PEOPLE across the Wee County are being encouraged to step up and play their part in the fight against the emerging Omicron variant of coronavirus.

NHS Forth Valley is reminding people to follow the key Covid-19 protection measures which are already in place after cases of the highly-mutated variant have been identified in Scotland.

Supporting the Scottish Government’s Living Safely for Us All campaign, Dr Graham Foster, NHS Forth Valley’s director of public health, is encouraging people across the health board area to play their part by stepping up their efforts to curb transmission.

Dr Foster said: “We’re appealing to people to live safely for us all.

“It’s really important to follow the key Covid-19 protections already in place to help keep you and others safe and prevent the spread of this new variant.

“If you are eligible and not yet vaccinated, booking an appointment to get your Covid-19 vaccine remains the best way to protect yourself from the virus, and stepping up efforts to comply with the guidance in place, particularly testing before meeting up with others, is vital in helping protect communities, and the NHS.”

People are being asked to take regular lateral flow tests, particularly before mixing with people from other households, and to stay at home if the test is positive.

Residents in the area are also e being encouraged to meet others outdoors, let fresh air in if mixing with other households indoors, and work from home if possible.

Other key protections include booking an appointment for a booster vaccine if eligible, maintaining good hand hygiene, wearing face coverings where required as well as self-isolating and booking a PCR test with Covid-19 symptoms.

Booster vaccines are currently being expanded and rolled out for the 40 to 49 age group.

Appointments are available during December with people urged to use the NHS Inform online portal or the national vaccination helpline to book a jab.

Booster vaccines can be booked at least 24 weeks after the second dose until arrangements to introduce new guidance have been put in place.

This will see boosters being offered to people aged 18 to 39 and reduce the interval between doses to three months.

The national booking portal is already open for the 50 to 59 age group, unpaid carers who are 16 and over and those aged 16 and over who are household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

Anyone in these groups who has not yet received their Covid-19 booster vaccine is being encouraged to the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 to book an appointment as soon as possible.

People aged 16 to 17 can also use the national booking portal for a second dose.

Fiona Coan, immunisation team manager at NHS Forth Valley, said: “Boosters are just as important as the initial vaccinations as immunity levels wane over time with increasing risk of further infection.

“The booster dose improves your level of protection significantly and is the best way to protect your health and those around you.”

Visit nhsinform.scot/vaccinebooking or call 0800 030 8013 to book.