NHS praises 'herculean effort' of Covid vaccination programme in Cornwall
More than a million doses have been given out in the Duchy since the UK rollout began
Last updated 8th Dec 2021
The NHS is praising the 'herculean efforts' of staff and volunteers across Cornwall and the South West, as it marks the first anniversary of the first COVID vaccination and the start of the biggest immunisation programme in history.
More than 10.5 million doses have been given out across the region since December 2020, including over one million in the Duchy.
The vaccines have been delivered through large scale vaccination centres, hospital hubs, GP surgeries and community pharmacies.
Rachel Pearce, Regional Director of Commissioning and Senior Responsible Officer for the COVID vaccination programme for NHS England, South West, said: "The dedication of vaccination teams across health and care has been phenomenal.
"Their endless energy has seen us go from a region delivering hundreds of COVID vaccinations on that very first day to thousands and then millions.
"I would like to extend a very big thank to all NHS staff and volunteers for pulling out all the stops to help make the vaccination programme for the South West such a success.
"I would also like to thank everyone who has come forward to have their COVID vaccination and protect themselves, their loved ones, friends and colleagues against this potentially deadly virus".
Iain Davidson, lead for the hospital hub and large-scale vaccination centres and based at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, has praised vaccination teams across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, volunteers and those who have stepped forward to protect themselves by having the jab.
He recalled the opening of the vaccination centre at the hospital hub as a 'euphoric moment'.
Iain said: "So much time had been spent by everybody getting to that point, lots of sleepless nights.
"We had all been living on adrenalin for about a week and to actually open the doors for that very first clinic to the lovely patients that turned up and to watch the nurses and their sheer professionalism was just a wonderful sight to see. That day we vaccinated 200 people and it was incredible. We had a vaccine and we had hope".
Iain said the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is "enormously proud of the staff, volunteers and everyone involved in the roll-out of the programme".
He added: "We can’t thank them enough for their tireless efforts in getting us all to such a huge number within a year.
"I remember those first doses being administered at the hospital hub in Truro back in early December last year and I couldn’t have imagined we’d have done more than a million just 12 months later".
People are encouraged to continue to support the vaccination programme, to take up the offer of having their first or second vaccinations if they have been invited but have not yet done so and, if eligible, book up for their booster jab through the National Booking Service online or via 119.
Currently, you can pre-book your COVID-19 booster online if it's been five months (152 days) since you had your second dose and you are:
• Aged 40 and over
• Aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at increased risk from COVID-19.
• Frontline health and social care workers
Although you can pre-book a booster dose from 5 months after your second dose, the appointment dates you'll be offered will be from 6 months (182 days) after your second dose.
Last week, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) updated its guidance to recommend all adults who have received two doses of the vaccine receive a booster three months on from their second dose, following the emergence of the Omicron variant.
The new JCVI advice means those aged 18 to 39 will also be eligible for a booster when the NHS calls them forward.
The National Booking Service (NBS) is currently being updated to reflect the minimum three-month (91 days) interval from the second dose to booster vaccination as recently advised by JCVI. The intention is to go live as soon as possible.
Just as before, when the vaccine programme launched last year, each age group will be invited to come forward by the NHS, with the older and more clinically vulnerable being called first.
Iain added: "Getting vaccinated, along with taking extra precautions such as wearing a face covering in busy spaces, regular hand washing, and regular testing, are ways that we protect ourselves and each other from COVID-19. We have lots more vaccine we need to give out but it’s important we recognise and pay tribute to the fantastic work of all those who’ve helped get us to this stage".
He continued: "It’s not just the incredible people helping with the programme who we need to thank. We also need to applaud the people of Cornwall who’ve come forward in their droves to play their part. The majority across our county have shown such a collective spirit in the past year".
Families of healthy 12 to 15 year olds who have not yet had a first dose of the vaccine are also encouraged to book them in through the National Booking Service online or via 119.