28/11/2023
NEWS | It’s the end of an era this week as the local NHS COVID vaccination team move out of their base at Cheltenham East Fire Station, almost three years after delivering the first vaccinations to local residents there in December 2020.
The station, which has been home to the town’s main GP-led Primary Care Network Community Vaccination centre, hosted the final clinic of the winter COVID vaccine programme earlier this week.
Over the course of the last three years, around 360,000 COVID vaccinations have been delivered at the site, an incredible 18% of all vaccines delivered in Gloucestershire.
Clinical Lead Nurse, Sarah Gallagher, said:
“It’s been an absolute privilege to be part of this incredible group of people who have been working tirelessly to protect our local population against serious illness.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the approximately 500 staff and volunteers who have done a stint with us at the station, whether that’s as vaccinators, administrators or marshals. I have been truly humbled by their commitment and determination to make a difference to our community.
It has been tough at times, working through heatwaves, freezing and icy conditions, incredibly busy clinics, not to mention the children’s clinics with special guest appearances from some very fluffy therapy dogs. But through all of that, my team have managed to keep a smile on their face and get the job done.
Special mention must also go to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, who have been generous enough to share their space with us for almost three years. With their support, particularly Response and Resilience Manager, Kevin Adcock, we have been able to protect some of the most vulnerable in our population against COVID-19, likely saving countless lives along the way.”
