Croydon’s chief nurse calls on community to support local booster programme
Former NHS staff, students and volunteers across Croydon are being asked to join forces with frontline workers to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, as the health service continues to tackle the Omicron variant that is spreading rapidly throughout the country.
As part of a nationwide race to save lives and keep people healthy this winter, everyone over 18 is being offered the opportunity to get their booster by the end of the year, with over 1.5 million COVID-19 jabs, delivered this weekend alone (18-19 December 2021).
Elaine Clancy, Croydon’s Chief Nurse, who is leading the NHS response to COVID-19 in the borough said:
“We’re doing everything we can to protect local residents ahead of Christmas and our incredible NHS teams and other key workers, alongside hundreds of volunteer vaccinators, have been working tirelessly to deliver the fastest vaccine roll-out in health service history.
“Former and future healthcare workers have played a significant role throughout the pandemic, and now, as we overcome the latest challenge in our fight against COVID-19, we’d like to call on past and future generations of NHS staff, along with the public, to come on board and help us.”
Those who would like to join the vaccine team in Croydon or across south west London are being urged to visit www.england.nhs.uk/joinvaccineteam to find out how they can help.
The call comes as cases of Omicron increase, with boosters providing critical protection from the new variant.
Matthew Kershaw, Chief Executive at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and the borough’s Place-Based Leader for Health added:
“Our vaccination programme is continuing to place a crucial role in protecting local residents against COVID-19.
“Throughout this week, and even on Christmas Day, our teams will be delivering the life-saving jabs at hospital hubs, GP practices, pharmacies and vaccination centres across Croydon.
“We know that 97% of patients in hospital in south west London are unvaccinated and so we’re also encouraging those who haven’t yet had their first and second doses of the COVID-19 jab to come forward and ensure they are protected from serious illness.
“Vaccines are our best possible defence against the virus so I hope that local residents take up the offer of a COVID-19 vaccine this Christmas.”
The best way to ensure you get your vaccines and booster is to make an appointment here. If you walk into a local clinic without booking you may experience long waiting times.
All the information about Croydon’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics is here and you can check your eligibility here.