Retired police officer from Whitchurch returns to the frontline as a Stafford vaccinator
All this week we #MeetTheVaccinators in the race to jab all adults across Staffordshire and Cheshire by July 19th
As the number of adults who've been fully vaccinated across Staffordshire and Cheshire tops 1,200,000 - this week we #MeetTheVaccinators who've made it all possible.
Paul Winning. who is 68 years old and from Whitchurch, is a vaccine volunteer in Stafford. A former police officer of more than 30 years - Paul came out of retirement because he wanted to once again step up to protect the public.
"I was on a few social media sites within the Police, and that's where I saw the advert asking for people to step forward. There're different roles, the one that appealed to me was vaccinating. So I just thought, I'll go for that, because I'm used to dealing with people." said Paul.
"I've certainly experienced a lot of different cultures in the police lots of different situations with the public - and then I did 14 years HGV driving so with that experience, I thought maybe I could have something to offer."
Paul's one of 80,000 across the country dedicating their time and skills to hit the target of vaccinating all adults with one dose by the 19th July.
"It's a great, rewarding, satisfying feeling. At the end of the day, you feel like you've done your little bit to this global situation."
Paul says that the vaccine hubs have an incredible calming atmosphere and is praising all the teams involved in creating that.
"The volunteers do a crackin' role. There's no doubt about that, and the enthusiasm - because of the volunteers, there's always laughing and joking going on within the Vaccination Centre, which obviously helps to put the patients at ease." said Paul.
"I was surprised how many people have a phobia of needles and injections, all they need to do with those people is just spend a bit more time with it. Sometimes time is an issue when the queues are building up. But at the end of the day, the patient is a priority, not the queue."
Paul says he's determined to reassure younger generations that the vaccines safe.
"As the age groups have come down, you do see a difference in the patients when they come in - a bit more hesitant. They ask a lot more questions such as you know, side effects, and we just reassure them that the side effects 24 or 48 hours is the norm."
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