'I'm just one of many people helping out with the vaccination programme'

We're shining a spotlight on local vaccinators doing their bit to help us move out of lockdown and past the pandemic #MeetTheVaccinators

Author: Benjamin FearnPublished 21st Jun 2021

The work of local vaccinators in York and North Yorkshire is being celebrated.

We've been speaking to some of our local NHS staff and volunteers as part of our #MeetTheVaccinators news special.

It's as over 200,000 people in York have had a dose of a Covid vaccine, and over half of the adult population here are now fully vaccinated.

Jennie Booth is Lead Nurse for Medicines Management at York Teaching Hospital, and has been training other staff to carry out jabs - as well as doing some herself: "I got involved because my job requires me to ensure that if we're administering medications - we're administering them carefully.

"I was involved in ensuring all the documentation was in place along with the information, and our vaccinating teams had the appropriate information.

"I can remember vaccinating my first person, and it was really emotional. It was a real privilege to be able to contribute, and talking to fellow colleagues they felt exactly the same.

"In the vaccine hubs there was a strong feeling of emotion. It was a really positive vibe; everybody was happy and there was a great camaraderie amongst the variety of staff taking part.

"Many people committed to doing extra shifts to help, as well. It was all supported by the volunteers who came to help us, as well.

"I'm just one of many people who has been there talking to patients and giving them their injections.

"I did far more training and education in my role to support nurses moving from one area of work to another than I had ever done. It was a real privilege to be able to teach them.

"The camaraderie has been genuinely lovely. You'd see people walking up to the vaccination booth and before you'd said 'hello, my name is Jennie' they were having their sleeves out ready to be jabbed!

"They (the patients) were seeing the end to it, and people were filming us, taking photographs, crying whilst having a jab...it was amazing to see the response".

Doctor Ian Jackson is a retired consultant anaesthetist from York Teaching Hospital, and volunteered to help out with the vaccination programme: "I kept looking out for something to do to help, as it was so frustrating to see my colleagues working so hard.

"When the opportunity to take part in the programme came up, I knew it was something constructive I could do to help.

"I had to complete all the online training, but that first day walking into the vaccination hub was really quite intimidating - even though I had been a clinician in York for over 30 years.

"I settled in soon after, and it was such a positive experience from the first person onwards. I remember the first patient I vaccinated was a nurse, and she was just so happy to be getting the jab.

"Her arm was exposed ready for a jab before we'd even had a chat! After that first jab all worries that I had disappeared, and it was really positive to be part of a team again.

"I've been volunteering at the hospital and helping local GPs in Easingwold, and in both cases it's a very efficient service - it's been hugely dependent on the volunteers.

"We've had fantastic local volunteers looking after patients and helping to direct them. It is an amazing thing - in one room we do 700 patients a day.

"We've all said that once we're able to do so we're keen to meet up and celebrate the success of the programme. The patients also have been really positive.

"People who have been seriously shielding haven't really had a break, but once they're double vaccinated they've got a much better opportunity to live life again".

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