‘People have been saying, “Is it over? I didn’t
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“We’ve got 11 teams operational across Scotland,” he explains. “I’ve got eight people in my team in Glasgow, plus a reserve back in Leuchars. NHS Scotland has scouted out the key sites, and we go in with a checklist that involves assessing things like how big the car park is, and whether there’s enough space for the centre – to set out the number of vaccination cells that they want. Then there are issues like, where can we put the vaccination fridges? Is there good ventilation – not only in the hall, but in the room to keep the fridges cool?”
Each person involved in the vaccination programme has valuable skills to bring to the project, and their determination to work together and make a difference really shows.
“Every single organisation, whether that be NHS Scotland, the military, the local authorities or the contractors is bringing its own expertise,” says Calum. “The Army brings organisational capacity and a can-do attitude. It’s a vast effort by everyone involved. Then we’re helping to think outside the box; the Scots DG has had some experience working with this sort of military aid to civil authorities, as we were deployed earlier in the pandemic to construct mobile testing units.
MOVING FAST
And as the vaccination programme has shown so far, speed is of the essence – and with more than 10 million people across the UK already having received their first dose, things are moving fast.
“A large centre, like most of the ones in Glasgow that I’ve been working on, will handle 1,818 people per day – someone has really done the maths! I know some of the other guys have been working on extra-large ones whose capacity is even greater,” says Calum, who stresses how proud he is to be
Corporal Sally Woodcock, 34, a clarinettist with the RAF, is working at a vaccine hub in Powys.
Volunteers have been keeping the vaccine hubs running, and when the pandemic pressed pause on Corporal Woodcock’s musical engagements, she was sent to offer support in Wales.
“There are so many people out there who need to have the vaccine as soon as possible,” says Corporal Woodcock. “All the staff working in the hub are just fantastic, and they graft so hard. I’ve been in various different roles there, and everyone is really friendly. Their dedication, patience and humour while all this is going on, with everybody that comes through, is just fantastic. So it’s lovely to be able to switch around and see how they all work – it’s been really good so far.”
And as someone who has now seen hundreds of people getting their vaccine, Corporal Woodcock can reassure them it’s quick and easy. “It’s absolutely painless,” she says. “You get a little bit of a numb arm afterwards, but you get that with a
When we take off the uniform at night we’re just regular people, and we want to get back to normal – going to the pub and seeing friends