Gloucestershire’s NHS has recently bid farewell to the primary Coronavirus vaccination hub in the county, Cheltenham East Fire Station, as its team administered the final jabs at the site this week. The hub’s lead nurse expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work from the fire station in safeguarding the population against the serious disease.
The town’s fire station on Keynsham Road will now revert to its primary role of ensuring residents' safety from fires and car accidents, while the healthcare workers who played a pivotal role in combating the first pandemic in a century return to the NHS. Remarkably, the site has delivered over a third of a million vaccines since December 2020, constituting nearly one-fifth of all Covid jabs administered to Gloucestershire residents.
Operating in diverse conditions, the teams at the fire station worked tirelessly to execute the Covid vaccine program and protect the county’s populace, culminating in the conclusion of their final vaccine clinic this week. Clinical Lead Nurse, Sarah Gallagher, conveyed her appreciation for the approximately 500 staff and volunteers who contributed to the vaccination effort, acknowledging their unwavering commitment to the community.
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Dr. Andy Seymour, Chief Medical Officer, NHS Gloucestershire, extended gratitude to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service for their support over the past few years, emphasizing the monumental team effort that enabled the delivery of hundreds of thousands of vaccines. He further underscored the tireless work of Sarah Gallagher and her team, expressing immense pride in their accomplishments.
While the vaccination center at Cheltenham East Fire Station has closed, eligible individuals can still receive the COVID vaccine until December 15 by scheduling an appointment at a participating community pharmacy through the National Booking System or by calling 119.