‘Humbling’ job giving Covid jab at new centre
VACCINATIONS NOW BEING GIVEN AT FORMER TV STUDIOS
NOTTINGHAM’S latest vaccination centre has opened.
The service is at the University of Nottingham’s King’s Meadow Campus – the old Central TV studios – in Lenton.
Over the weekend, another site at Cripps Health Centre in Nottingham opened with more set to go live in the coming days and weeks.
On Thursday, 81-yearold John Armstrong from Bramcote received the vaccine at King’s Meadow from Luke Halls, a firstyear physiotherapy student at the University of Nottingham, and one of the people delivering the jabs. He called it a “humbling” experience.
He said: “It feels really humbling.
“For me as a first-year physio student, it just allows me to make a difference.
“You can play your part at the moment by following the rules but this is actually making a big difference and it’s how we are going to see our way out of this crisis.
“I got the opportunity from my clinical lecturers and just thought it would be a really good thing to take on.”
All NHS partners, the university, and healthcare authorities have been working together to prepare he new centre.
Patients will be called in priority order by appointment only.
The NHS will send letters to eligible people.
The first priority is for those aged 80 and over and frontline health and social care workers.
If you have not received a letter yet, you should have it by Tuesday at the latest.
Health chiefs have asked the public not to call their GP or turn up at A&E or their doctor’s surgery.
Dr Hugh Porter, a doctor at Cripps Health Centre and clinical director and interim lead at Nottingham City Integrated Care Partnership, said: “It’s brilliant to see another local vaccination service open as we continue to roll out the programme across our city and county and prioritise vaccination for those most at risk first.
“We understand that many people want to be vaccinated and ask the public to work with us and be patient.
“When it is your turn to have the vaccine, you will receive a letter from the NHS with instructions on how to book so please don’t contact your GP practice or turn up to A&E.
“When you do receive your letter, please make your appointment as quickly as possible.”
The University of Nottingham’s vice-chancellor, Professor Shearer West, added: “The delivery of these vaccines, starting with our healthcare heroes and the most vulnerable in our society, offer us all the hope that one day soon we will be able to come together again with family, friends and colleagues. “Seeing the way in which our university community has risen to the challenge of Covid-19 from the start of the pandemic – whether it be through working to develop new vaccines, volunteering to support our local communities or leading numerous research studies to increase our understanding of the virus and its impact – has been a constant source of inspiration to me.
“The efforts of our staff and students who have helped to support NHS colleagues in the rollout of the vaccination programme have been truly outstanding.”
For me as a first-year physio student, it just allows me to make a difference
Student Luke Halls