Tears of relief flood the Halls of Hope
Judith Woods introduces a selection of our readers’ moving and uplifting tales from Britain’s coronavirus vaccination front line
Tears of gratitude. Cheers of delight. Sighs of relief and, of course, the masked smiles lighting up our darkest hour yet. Community centres, churches and council offices – these are Britain’s new Halls of Hope. Today we are focusing on the unprecedented and hugely uplifting vaccination drive that is under way the length and breadth of the land. You, our readers, have contacted us with heartwarming stories of the compassion, courage and camaraderie displayed by those receiving – and giving – those millions of life-saving Oxford injections and Pfizer jabs.
In Salisbury, golf buggies are being deployed to ferry the frail to the vaccination site. Spontaneous applause broke out at a doctor’s surgery in the Vale of Glamorgan. “Courteous efficiency” was very much the byword for those fortunate enough to have been called up.
The main source of worry was among those concerned they had been overlooked by the system. But it was unsurprising that after shielding for almost a year, some felt a degree of trepidation about venturing out of the house. But most found themselves met with warmth and reassurance. One NHS volunteer in east London reported that many recipients wept with relief.
It is a relief that will cascade down the generations. Our nation’s ambitious vaccination programme might still be in its infancy but already it is uniting us and bringing out the best in our communities. In Britain’s unassuming Halls of Hope, every injection is another step towards a vaccination victory.