Flagship store’s pride as it joins vaccine rollout
BOOTS BOLSTERS VIRUS FIGHT AS IT ADMINISTERS OXFORD JAB
BOOTS in the Victoria Centre opened its new vaccination hub on Saturday.
Store managers Sammy Povey and Rachel Habbitt said their morning had been filled with “anxiety and excitement” following two weeks of intense preparations to get the hub open.
The pharmacy, health and beauty retail giant is offering Covid-19 vaccinations from its flagship shopping centre store in the city as well as at branches in Beeston and Newark.
These must be booked as usual through the NHS website.
Sammy Povey, the assistant manager who is also operational lead for the vaccine hub project, said the Victoria Centre branch opes to eventually administer vaccines to 24 people every hour, seven days a week.
She said: “That is two every five min- utes. It is like a glo- rified flu vaccine.
“We did feel a bit of anxiety and nerves, as well as excitement, all rolled in to one.
“Normally it would take us three to four weeks but we have done it in two.
“I feel a real sense of relief. We hope there will be a real buzz.”
The vaccine hub in the Victoria Centre store is on the first floor, up the escalators which can be accessed via the entrance in Lower Parliament Street.
Even before 10am staff said seven people had already been given their Oxford Astrazeneca jab.
Rachel Habbitt, who has been the store manager for over two years, said: “There had been rumours of us doing it, but once we found out it has been go, go, go.
“It is a very exciting opportunity. It is a proud moment, with us being the home of Boots, the flagship.
“Staff have been through a training programme and the pharmacists are all vaccine trained anyway.
“It feels nice and calm and that’s what we want. The good thing is you can come in to the Boots store and browse all our make-up and beauty while you wait.”
One of the many who were being vaccinated on Saturday was 21-yearold Cancer Sciences student Jack Cobb, who is studying at the University of Nottingham and has lived in Nottinghamshire all his life.
He said: “The location is good. A lot of the other places are really far away.
“I feel fine about it, especially from a scientific background, it does not worry me in the slightest
“It is important [people are vaccinated], but everyone is entitled to their opinions. But if people want to get back to normal it is important.” Boots pharmacist of eight years, Seriah Mahil, administered Mr Cobb with the vaccine in a matter of seconds.
The system is easy to navigate and calm, with a few simple questions asked beforehand including whether patients have coronavirus symptoms.
The initiative by Boots comes as supplies of the vaccine nationally and locally are expected to dip from today.
Therefore, the vaccination roll-out will not open to further cohorts until the Government gives the go-ahead, health bosses have confirmed.
So far 471,352 vaccinations have been given out in the county, with a record-breaking 65,000 in the last week.
According to the latest figures, 70 percent of 50 to 54-year-olds in Nottinghamshire had received their first dose, meaning around 21,200 eligible people had still not been vaccinated.
In the 55 to 59 age group, 83.5 percent have had their first dose with around 11,000 remaining.
It is a proud moment, with us being the home of Boots, the flagship.
Store manager Rachel Habbitt