NHS Fife has asked residents to stop phoning pharmacies to request a coronavirus vaccine.

A statement released today has stated that due to some pharmacies in England offering the vaccine, people across the Kingdom have been phoning their local chemist to ask about it.

This has, in turn, kept staff from doing essential work and now NHS Fife has requested it stops.

The statement read: “COVID vaccination has started in a handful of Community Pharmacies in England today.

“However, this service is not available in any Community Pharmacy in Fife at the moment, we kindly ask that you do not contact them regarding this and leave their phone lines free for urgent patient enquiries.

“Further information on the vaccination programme is available from: www.nhsinform.scot/covid19vaccine and the National Covid Vaccination Helpline - 0800 030 8013.”