BEHIND THE SCENES: JAG DAY BRINGS ‘HOPE AND EXCITEMENT’
THEY come in excited that the jag they are about to receive represents the best chance for us all to get our lives back. Sitting in the games hall in the Glasgow Club leisure centre in Easterhouse is a moment these men and women, and their families, have been awaiting for almost a year.
They leave with a sense of relief and hope.
Set up by the council with the help of the army and run by NHS immunisation nurses, the centre is the frontline in the effort to protect us all from Covid-19.
The Glasgow Times was allowed access to the centre to speak to the staff and those getting the vaccine.
The women and men, in their 70s, from the east of the city, were relieved and delighted that at last a vaccination was available and was now inside them.
Josephine Jasnosz, 72, from Shettleston, said: “It’s fantastic. I can’t wait to get the second dose. Everything worked well. I signed in, came through to the hall and was shown to a vacant table to get the jag. They asked me four questions about my health then I got the jag.”
She hoped that life could soon begin to get back to normal, adding: “I’m glad things are moving on. My husband George is shielding so I’ve only been outside to do the shopping in the last year.
“We have a grandson and a granddaughter but we’ve only seen our family in the garden at Christmas.”
People wait for around 15-20 minutes after the jag before they leave to go home.
Margaret Laing, 74, from Shettleston, is a knitter and crafter and has been sewing masks to send to her family – she only goes outside to go to the shops once a week.
She said: “This is a good setup. It’s well organised, it’s a good system. People have to get the jag. The more people get it the better.”
Husband and wife Elizabeth and Billy McGhee arrived together for their appointments – and they left happy.
Elizabeth,72, explained their situation, and it was one people all over the county will recognise.
She said: “I’m excited now I’ve had it. My grandson phoned this morning to say good luck. The family are excited about this.
“They haven’t been able to come into the house and have been leaving shopping at the door for us.”
Billy, 73, said: “I’m happy to have the jag. I’ve not been out for months, except to the doctors. Our daughters go the messages for us.”
Christopher Kavanagh, 71, from Shettleston, had a no-nonsense message for anyone spreading misinformation about the vaccine or who were encouraging people not to take it.
He said: “I think it’s great. Nobody should not be getting it. As well as helping yourself, you’re helping everybody else. Anyone who puts out any propaganda for people not to get the vaccine are a***holes.
“We’re saving ourselves and other people. Hopefully, this is it getting better. We’ll see what happens.”
Straight-talking Mr Kavanagh also praised the staff. He said: “It was so easy. The staff are so professional, I can’t fault any of it.”
From the minute people turn up at the front door or swing into the car park, the people responsible for the finely tuned operation take over to ensure a smooth and safe process.
Amanda Miller is the clinical nurse lead at the vaccination centre. She said: “We have nine vaccinators and we are doing
460 jags a day here between 8am and 8pm.
“The nurses are all working over and above their own jobs to carry this out.
“People are so relieved and so grateful to get the jag. They feel they’re now getting a bit of protection.
“It’s a great sense of satisfaction knowing we’re doing a lot of good. When you hear in the news how many are getting done ... it’s a big step forward.”
The take-up rate for the vaccination is very high.
Ms Miller said: “Just now it’s the over-70s we’re doing. There’s a very low did-not-attend rate.”
There are nurses, doctors, ophthalmologists and pharmacists in the team.
Lianne Roberts is a locum pharmacist and is doing her first shift at the centre in Easterhouse.
She said: “It feels great to be doing this. It’s quite an exciting feeling. Some of the people are excited and some are nervous.
“Many haven’t been out of their home for a year. They’re happy to come.”
Ryan Connell is the duty manager at Glasgow Club Easterhouse.
The centre has been a multi-team effort with council and Glasgow Life staff managing the centre. The army helped set it up and the NHS team is in charge of the vaccinations.
He said: “It was short notice to get this set up. But it has been great for us to be involved in this. It is a really positive atmosphere.”