Fife care home coronavirus outbreak came days before residents were due to be vaccinated

A care home coronavirus outbreak which has claimed the lives of 12 people began days before residents were due to be vaccinated, we can reveal.

The boss of West Park Care Home in Fife said the facility had been “Covid-free” until December 18 when the first case emerged.

Vaccinators arrived at the care home near Glenrothes on Hogmanay but many residents had already contracted the virus so could not receive their first dose.

NHS Fife said a total of 30 residents and 21 staff tested positive for the virus at West Park between December 18 and January 5.

Irene Bright, who runs West Park in Leslie, Fife, said: “It was a shock. We had gone 10 months Covid-free.

“We had everything in place, infection prevention and control wise. Obviously it’s the more highly contagious virus.”

Dr Donald Macaskill of Scottish Care, a membership organisation for private care homes, said: “There are 200 care homes at the moment with an outbreak and we’ve now vaccinated 96% of all care home residents.”

Dr Macaskill warned: “Immunity doesn’t kick in for 14-22 days.

“In that period, if people contract the virus they can still get ill.”

NHS Fife said: “Patients at West Park were vaccinated on the 31st of December, although in line with guidance, anyone diagnosed with Covid-19 in the previous four weeks would not have been vaccinated.

“The last resident to test positive for Covid-19 was recorded on January 5.”