THE Borders is getting extra military personnel to help with the coronavirus vaccine roll-out.

The UK Government announced on Wednesday (February 3) that an additional 81 members of the armed forces will be deployed in Scotland.

In order to assist the coronavirus vaccine roll-out, 57 military personnel will be added to the 98 members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards currently aiding the vaccination programme.

A further 24 logistic support staff – mostly from Edinburgh-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles – will help the running of vaccination centres in the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Grampian.

The announcement was welcomed by a pair of Borders parliamentarians.

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Rachael Hamilton, Tory MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, said: “The announcement is very much welcomed, and additional armed forces personnel working alongside NHS staff will help boost the roll-out of the vaccine further.

"The offer of help went out from the Scottish secretary in a letter [this week], and I am glad the action has been taken to bolster efforts to get the jab to as many people as possible.

“I want to thank all NHS staff, volunteers and the armed forces for their hard work in administering the vaccines to as many people as possible safely and quickly.

“Sunday saw the lowest daily figure for COVID vaccinations, and there is simply not time for the SNP government to waste.

“The route out of this pandemic is reliant on a swift and efficient vaccination roll-out”.

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Borders MP John Lamont, added: “The armed forces have been a crucial part of protecting against COVID-19.

“They have been delivering testing centres across Scotland, evacuating patients by air to more suitable locations, and helping set up vaccination centres. We need to be utilising every resource available to help speed up vaccinations.

“It is very welcome they will now be assisting our marvellous and dedicated NHS staff here in the Borders to run vaccination centres.

"Vaccines have provided us all with a sense of hope that this dreadful virus may one day be a thing of the past. It is absolutely vital that this is rolled out to the vulnerable population as quickly as possible.”

The announcement follows a letter sent from Scottish secretary Alister Jack to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday (February 2).

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In the letter, Mr Jack said: “I strongly believe that to put the nightmare of COVID-19 behind us as quickly as possible, we must collaborate as closely as possible.”

The First Minister confirmed that on Monday (February 1) “just under 35,000 first dose vaccinations were done”, becoming the highest daily number recorded up to that point – 55 per cent higher than the previous Monday.

As at 8.30am yesterday (February 4), a total of 694,347 people in Scotland had received their first jag of a vaccine.

More than 45,087 were vaccinated on Wednesday (February 3) – a record daily total for the third day in a row.

The Scottish Government set February 5 (today) as its deadline for giving all over-80s, care home residents and frontline health workers their first jag.

Speaking earlier today on BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, health secretary Jeane Freeman said she was confident that the target would be met.