Peterborough hospital vaccinator's pride at helping protect vulnerable residents - and tips for people going to get the COVID jab

Alan Pope is part of the team at the hospital giving out the Pfizer/Biontech jab.

He said everyone on the team felt incredible pride in the work they were doing to help vulnerable residents - and the rest of the population in Peterborough.

Alan said: "Working as a vaccinator at the hospital is an incredibly rewarding experience.

"It's good to know that the work we are doing will help protect people from the worst of the virus and help us all to get back to the normal life we led before it arrived.

"I know my colleagues in the vaccinating team all feel proud to be involved, and we have worked hard to ensure we give the smoothest service possible to the people being vaccinated.

"We've had a big effort from lots of other staff around the hospital who have helped put the new vaccination clinics in place. And it's been great to work with the volunteers who greet

all of the people and take their details as they arrive in the clinic."

Alan said that people who had come in for the jab had said the process was easier than expected - and gave tips to residents to make it as easy as possible when they go and get the vaccine.

He said: "Everyone has been very happy to come in and receive the vaccine. Many have commented on how it was quicker and easier than expected.

"To help the clinic run smoothly it helps if people wear short sleeve tops so that we can get to their arm easily for the vaccination.

"If you can have you NHS number available that would also be helpful, but don’t worry if you don’t know it – you can still be vaccinated without one.

"NHS staff are doing an incredible job to deliver what is the largest vaccination programme in our history, at the same time as dealing with high levels of Covid-19 hospital patients, but we

need the public to play their part too:

"Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you;

"When we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments at exactly the time you’re asked to, so that we can avoid queues in this cold weather;

"And please continue to follow all the guidance in place to control the virus and save lives, even if you have already had your vaccine."

As of January 31, more than 153,000 people had received the jab in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough - with the percentage of people aged 70 and above to get the vaccine well above the national average.

MORE: Peterborough and Cambridgeshire COVID vaccination programme well above national average as tens of thousands of elderly residents get jab