Volunteers needed at Surrey vaccination sites
People are needed mainly at the old Canon site on Cockshot Hill, Woodhatch
The NHS is appealing for volunteers to support vaccination centres in Reigate and Epsom.
People are needed mainly at the old Canon site on Cockshot Hill, Woodhatch, to direct visitors where to park and how to access the site, and check they do not have covid symptoms.
Inside tasks involve keeping the waiting area sanitised and chatting to people for 15 minutes after they have had their vaccination.
Alliance for Better Care said they need friendly people who are able to talk to elderly or frail people who may be nervous. Volunteers must also be in good health with no infectious diseases.
A spokesperson said: “It is anticipated that several centres will operate throughout the Reigate and Banstead borough and they will be operational for several months.
“Volunteers will be offered a range of venues and times where possible, however this will be subject to the demands of the service.”
Volunteers can cover one or more shift. A shift is four hours long and runs from 8am-12noon, 12noon-4pm and 4-8pm. For more information email angelina.lee@nhs.net
Anyone not currently needed may still be contacted at a later date as the vaccination process gathers speed.
The vaccination centre at Epsom Downs racecourse, hosted by community healthcare providers Central Surrey Health (CSH), are also looking for vaccinators, administrators, and ushers to assist with patient flow.
People being vaccinated currently are over 80s, vulnerable frontline NHS staff, and care home residents and staff.
Surrey Heartlands CCG said they started with larger care homes with over 50 residents and will be rolling the service out to all care homes over the next few weeks.
They have until now been administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which has to be stored at a very low temperature, but are starting to receive small quantities of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which will make it easier to get out to smaller care homes.
Volunteers can apply for Epsom here and Reigate here.