Peterborough community pharmacy gives out first Covid vaccinations

A new community pharmacy run vaccination hub has opened today (February 3) in Peterborough.
By Ben Jones
Published 4th Feb 2021, 04:55 BST
Lead Pharmacist Shabbir Damani (left), Supervisor Annabelle Taylor (centre) and Pharmacist Shakir Sacranie (right) at the Orton Wistow Halls the Chemist Covid 19 vaccination clinic.Lead Pharmacist Shabbir Damani (left), Supervisor Annabelle Taylor (centre) and Pharmacist Shakir Sacranie (right) at the Orton Wistow Halls the Chemist Covid 19 vaccination clinic.
Lead Pharmacist Shabbir Damani (left), Supervisor Annabelle Taylor (centre) and Pharmacist Shakir Sacranie (right) at the Orton Wistow Halls the Chemist Covid 19 vaccination clinic.

The vaccination centre at 59 Napier Place, Orton Wistow opened its doors on Thursday morning to become the first community pharmacy to join the city’s vaccination efforts.

This marks the completion of a journey that began less than a month ago to completely refurbish the old Beijing Rendezvous Peking-Cantonese restaurant into a vaccination clinic.

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The work has been taken on by Pharmacist Shabbir Damani from Halls the Chemist as a means of helping the city’s fight against Covid and as a thank you to the city as a whole for taking in his family when they came over as refugees from Uganda.

Shabbir Damani outside the vaccination clinic at Orton Wistow.Shabbir Damani outside the vaccination clinic at Orton Wistow.
Shabbir Damani outside the vaccination clinic at Orton Wistow.

The centre is scheduled to open at 8am, with a large number of people due to attend having booked through the NHS Direct Line and they will be receiving the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Mr Damani said: “Thank you to everyone who has helped us to get where we are today, not just over the last few months but for many years.

“We are indebted to you all, so many individuals and companies but I must mention two individuals, my father Hassan Damani and my wife Sumaiya, who is also a pharmacist. Without their support I could not have done what I set out to do.

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“I would urge everyone to go onto the NHS website to read up about the vaccine, that will dispel any myths about it, that it contains gelatine or that it will change your DNA to name just a few.

“Most, if not all of us, will know someone who has had Covid-19 some will know someone that has passed away due to the virus. I want to ask people to look at your nearest and dearest, your husband, your wife, your mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, sister, brother, son or daughter and ask yourself, if they passed away to Covid, could you say that you did everything you could to prevent the spread?

“For those that can, please get yourself vaccinated and help protect not just yourself but others.

“Also remember to check in on others via text, FaceTime, Whatsapp or any safe way to do so we can all be there for each other in this difficult time when our mental health is just as important as our physical health.

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“I also want to pay my respects to Captain Sir Tom, may he rest in peace and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. I hope people remember you will never walk alone, tomorrow will be better than today and tomorrow will be a good day.”

If you want to support the vaccination efforts you can be volunteering to help in any way you feel you can. Either message Halls the Chemist Facebook page or message Whatsapp on 07766910910, please note that calls can not be taken on this number, only messages.

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Related topics:Peterborough

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