From a church hall and a theatre, to a football ground and a night club, COVID-19 vaccination sites across Hertfordshire and west Essex have opened their doors to more than 300,000 people since December.
Latest figures, released on Thursday, February 18, show that 322,286 people in Hertfordshire and west Essex have received their first dose of the vaccine in one of over 40 vaccination sites in the area.
So far, a total of 180,866 (95 per cent) of people aged 70 and over have received their first dose, alongside tens of thousands of health and care workers and patients who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
All care homes for older people have been visited by vaccination teams and those who are housebound have been contacted and offered the vaccine at home.
Nina Desai, 58, had nothing but praise for the Watford Town Hall vaccine centre when she received her first vaccination last week.
She said: “It was all done in no time at all and there’s a lot of team spirit! I feel really happy to have it. I’d tell anyone who was nervous about getting it, don’t be. The centre feels very safe and welcoming.”
Across the vaccination programme, there are many examples of collaboration – turning halls, offices, sports and entertainment venues into vaccination sites, along with innovative ideas to protect the most vulnerable.
Dr Bruce Covell GP, of Parkbury House Surgery in St Albans and one of the organisers of the Batchwood site, said: “General Practices across St Albans have come together to work collaboratively to offer a community-focussed COVID-19 vaccination service.
“It has taken a huge team effort to turn around our premises, involving not only our practice and other NHS staff, but also St Albans District and Herts County Councils, voluntary agencies, the fire service, local police, local schools and supermarkets.”
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