The first City of York Council volunteers have today [Tuesday 21 December] joined clinical teams across the city to support the rollout of the NHS covid vaccine booster in York.
Local authorities across the country were asked to consider enabling their staff to work alongside the NHS to support the accelerated rollout of the covid 19 vaccine booster following the Prime Minster’s announcement a week ago.
City of York Council staff have already come forward to offer their services through realigning their existing roles, or volunteering, with the first teams being deployed to support the rollout within days of the ‘ask’ going out.
Cllr Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said: “I feel incredibly proud of the way staff have responded to the national ask for help. Their commitment to the city and to its response to covid is quite incredible.
“Our clinical partners administering the covid vaccinations and boosters are doing an amazing job, ensuring that anyone who is eligible for their jabs is able to get them, and I’m delighted that the council is able to support that citywide effort. Once again, it’s a fantastic example of partners and communities across the city coming together to support one another in the fight against this virus.”
Sharon Stoltz, City of York Council’s Director of Public Health, said
“City of York Council staff have shown time and time again that they are prepared to go ‘above and beyond’ to support residents and help in the fight against coronavirus. I, and clinical partners across the city, are incredibly grateful for their continued support. Their efforts will help as many eligible residents as possible in the city to receive their covid vaccinations and boosters by the end of December.
“All the information shows that having both vaccinations, plus the booster, is the best way to provide maximum protection against the Omicron variant which is more transmissible that we’ve seen previously. I’d urge anyone over the age of 18 who is eligible for their covid vaccinations and booster to get them now.”
Denise Nightingale, NHS Vale of York CCG's Executive Director of Transformation, Mental Health and Complex Care said: "Our clinical teams are pulling out all of the stops to deliver the COVID vaccine and to see staff across our partnerships step up to support them in volunteer roles fills me with pride.
"Be it for the COVID booster or for the first or second COVID vaccine, I urge everyone who is eligible to come forward for their jab and get protected."
Council staff will be deployed in a number of different roles, depending on their skill set, including medical and nursing staff administering vaccines and administrators supporting the vaccine and booster rollout.
Students from the University of York and York St John University are being also asked to volunteer their time to support the vaccine and booster rollout over the festive period.
To find out more about how to get your covid vaccinations and booster visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-booster-vaccine/
