Glasgow has suffered a particularly difficult pandemic: after enduring the harshest Covid restrictions in Scotland for the longest period of time, it is also at the top of the list of local authorities with the lowest vaccination rates.

And as the slowing pace of the vaccine rollout across the country sparks increasing concern in the run-up to Scotland’s ‘Freedom Day’ of August 9, there’s been a concentrated effort in Glasgow to convince younger adults and those living in more deprived areas in particular to get their jabs.

It is the hope of health officials that pop-up vaccination busses will do just that.

“We need to reach out and get into communities; it’s about taking care to the patients,” said Dr Barbara O’Donnell, speaking on Monday from a vaccination bus at Celtic Park.

Situated in the city’s impoverished East End and the home of Celtic Football Club, it was the hope that Monday’s pop-up clinic at Scotland’s largest football stadium would attract locals and football fans alike. Recent analysis from the Times found that one in ten Glaswegians who died from the virus lived within a three mile radius of the East End.

“It’s been an excellent day. We’ve had a steady flow of people with a variety of ages and quite a few vulnerable groups have shown up as well. I’m absolutely delighted,” said Dr O’Donnell, who is a clinical quality lead for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

For Robert Liddell, 59, it was a phobia of needles that kept him away until now.

“I have COPD myself so I do know how serious Covid is, but I’m frightened of needles and see when you’re phobic, it’s hard,” said Mr Liddell, who lives in Tollcross – around a mile east of the pop-up centre.

“I didn’t know if I’d get it right away; I thought there’d be a big queue and I was worried I’d left it too late, but it was as easy as pie. The staff reassured you, made sure you were calm and took the time to explain,” he said.