An NHS health board has been forced to apologise after dozens of over-12s were given out of date Covid vaccines.
NHS Grampian has confirmed that 42 out-of-date Covid vaccinations were administered in Stonehaven's town hall on 1 February.
Those who were affected by the botch are now being contacted directly by the health service.
It is believed the doses "are safe and will still protect" but health bosses say "there is a very small possibility of reduced effectiveness".
Following an investigation, NHS Grampian have confirmed that this is an isolated incident and all those affected were over 12, Aberdeen Live reports.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm 42 people who attended Stonehaven Vaccination Centre on 1 February were given a COVID-19 vaccine which was later discovered to be out of date.
"We are offering re-vaccination if those affected want this. We are contacting them directly to apologise and to offer them this, according to their personal circumstances.
"We would like to take this opportunity to apologise publicly for any distress or inconvenience."
This comes as Professor Sir Chris Whitty has written to unvaccinated NHS staff telling them it is their professional responsibility to get vaccinated.
The chief medical officer for England tweeted out the letter on Tuesday, saying: "I have written to NHS colleagues about the professional responsibility to protect patients from Covid-19.
"This includes getting vaccinated, as the great majority have."
It has also been signed by chief midwifery officer Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, chief nursing officer Ruth May, and NHS medical director Professor Stephen Powis, among others.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons last month that ministers plan to scrap a legal requirement for frontline NHS staff in England to be vaccinated against Covid.
He said ending the policy, which also affects social care staff, is now under consultation in light of the Omicron variant, which is less severe than the Delta variant.
In the letter, Sir Chris and others say that professional responsibility and legal mandate are separate things, adding: "Our professional responsibility is to get the Covid-19 vaccines as recommended, to protect our patients.
"At the same time, the vaccine protects us.
"The great majority of healthcare workers have already done so. We hope that those of you who have not will consider doing so now."
