#MeetTheVaccinators helping to keep Wiltshire safe
We're shining the spotlight on the brilliant staff and volunteers helping rollout the vaccine in the county and across the country
80,000 people have dedicated their time over the last seven months to join the battle to defeat Covid-19 as part of the UK vaccination programme.
To celebrate the hard-work of the UK's vaccine army, we're shining a spotlight on the doctors, nurses and volunteers at City Hall Salisbury who, jab by jab, are putting us on a path to freedom.
More than 85,000 vaccines have been administered at the mass centre in the city, while nearly 600,000 have been given out across the county.
MEET VOLUNTEERS LENDING A HELPING HAND
This is Robert Scott-Jupp, who has been working at the City Hall vaccine centre as a Healthcare Professional/Vaccinator.
When the pandemic hit, Robert was a retired doctor, who had worked as a consultant at Salisbury District Hospital for 25 years.
The call then came in March/April last year when the Government were asking for retired healthcare professionals to come and help the country in it's fight against Covid-19. Robert was one of those who gave up his free time to do so.
He was then approached to work at the City Hall vaccination centre and has been helping administer the life saving jabs ever since.
He told Greatest Hits Radio Salisbury:
"Back in March/April time last year, there was a government initiative to ask retired and recently retired healthcare professionals if they would come back so I volunteered then and did one or two other things but then I got phoned by somebody at Salisbury District Hospital and then wen through the whole recruitment process and training process to become a vaccinator here.
All sorts of strange things have happened in the last year or so as a result of this pandemic, it's very different to the sort of role I was doing before but the nice thing about is because having worked in Salisbury for a very long time, a lot of people I'm working with here at the vaccine centre are people I used to work with years ago at Salisbury District Hospital so it's quite nice."
Sharon Payne works as Volunteer Co-ordinator and does admin duty at the vaccine centre.
When the pandemic hit last March, Sharon had retired from the police force and was volunteering at the hospice and the hospital and doing things "most retired people do" which included started a gardening course and going to the gym.
When the City Hall centre opened in January, she was part of React, the first charity to come in and volunteer.
It was then Sharon started doing some of the admin as a volunteer, and then applied for the role of Volunteer Co-ordinator, which she has just started.
We asked Sharon what her favourite moment or memory has been so far at the centre:
"I think the first two weeks when the elderly were coming out in their Sunday best, the first time out of their houses maybe in that year, to come in and see them so happy at being one of first ones to get their vaccinations and even though they had to take off several layers of clothing because it was in the winter, they were smiling and laughing and really cheery and that was brilliant."
Just before March 2020, Harry Thick was in the process of changing his career and was planning on going back to university to study medicine.
He then started to apply for jobs as a healthcare assistant. He then had the job for nine months and saw a role appear at the City Hall last November, and has since under gone training and started at the centre in March as a vaccinator.
Harry said:
"It's been great, it's such a good atmosphere and is so friendly and all the patients that come through are just so grateful for what we do it's just a really nice setting to be in. It's certainly nice to do something that is so clearly beneficial to other people and I'm just a small part of a massive team and it's just so nice to be part of that team and to all work together to make an impact so I'm grateful for the experience and for the opportunity."
#MEETTHEVACCINATORS AROUND THE COUNTRY
Some famous faces who have been vaccinating are 2019 Bake off winner David Atherton, issuing jabs in London, former Elvis impersonator-turned-GP Andy Mason in Suffolk and Drag Race contestant Cherry Valentine dishing out the vaccine in Lancashire!
David Atherton won the Bake Off in 2019. He's now serving up vaccines in London
Elvis impersonator Dr Andy Mason vaccinated two of his backing singers, who also happen to be his daughters
Drag Race star Cherry Valentine has been part of the Vaccination programme in Lancashire (presumably not wearing those nails!)
Edgar Woodhead, on the left in his "normal" role as an airline pilot, and on the right, as a vaccinator in Ilkley, Yorkshire
All this week, we're using the hashtag #MeetTheVaccinators to celebrate their achievements and share their stories as we make the push for full vaccination, and the end of lockdown.
Vaccine roll-out gallery
What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.
What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.
What is the Moderna vaccine?
The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.
What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.
Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."
Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?
Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.
When will I receive the vaccine?
Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.
How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?
When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.
What is a vaccine passport?
The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.
Do I need a booster jab?
Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.
Will children be vaccinated?
The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.
What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?
All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.