COUNCILLORS will meet tomorrow to decide whether more flu jab centres should be established in Renfrewshire.

The current vaccination arrangements have caused uproar across rural communities such as Lochwinnoch, where elderly people have been told to travel to St Mirren Park, in Paisley, to receive the vaccine.

Some pensioners have had to grapple with multiple bus journeys to get to the Ferguslie Park site – something which has become even more difficult since advice was introduced by the Scottish Government to avoid public transport due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has faced an onslaught of criticism from councillors and villagers in recent weeks.

Now health chiefs are set to come under even more pressure to resolve the situation after the Labour group lodged a formal motion to demand that the HSCP urgently establishes more convenient vaccination sites.

The motion – which has forced a special meeting of Renfrewshire Council tomorrow – is due to be moved by Paisley Northwest and Ralston councillor Jim Sharkey and seconded by the Conservative group.

It will likely pass with support from Liberal Democrat representative Eileen McCartin or Independent member Andy Doig, who has already spoken out against the current arrangements.

The motion states: “Renfrewshire Council believes it is important to maximise uptake of the flu vaccine. Council notes the concerns expressed by over-65s in Renfrewshire that transport is a barrier to accessing the flu vaccination centre at St Mirren Park.

“Council calls on the HSCP to immediately establish additional vaccination centres across Renfrewshire, including appropriate local sites, to ensure that older people and everybody entitled to the vaccination in our area are able to access that vaccination.”