Boris Johnson visits Staffordshire vaccination centre
Boris Johnson visited one of the three large coronavirus vaccination centres in Staffordshire today.
The Prime Minister visited the Tunstall Covid-19 Vaccination Centre, near Stoke-on-Trent, to thank staff for their hard work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the lunchtime visit, the Prime Minister spoke to staff about the progress of the vaccination programme within Staffordshire. To date, 387,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Last week, the area topped the national league table with 96 per cent of over-70s having received their first dose of the vaccine.
Tracy Hall, clinical lead for Tunstall Vaccination Centre gave the Prime Minister a tour of the centre. She said: “It was lovely to be visited by the Prime Minister today and showcase all of the work that we are putting into the vaccination programme for the people of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
“During the visit I told him about some of the fantastic feedback that we have received from patients who have visited the vaccination centre.
"For some of these people coming for their vaccine is the first time that they have left their home in months. They are over the moon to be receiving the vaccination and to be getting one step closer to returning to some sort of normality.”
Neil Carr, chief executive of Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and senior responsible officer for the vaccination programme in Staffordshire, said: “Today’s visit from the Prime Minister has given a real morale boost to our staff and volunteers who have, and continue to, go above and beyond in our local response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Locally the uptake in the vaccine is very good and the success of the programme is credited to our workforce.
"Vaccination centres across Staffordshire are now vaccinating people in cohorts five and six, which includes people aged 65 years of age and over, and all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. If you fall into those cohorts please do take up the offer to receive our vaccination.”
Mr Carr added: “The vaccination programme in Staffordshire is a true partnership effort and the contribution of our GPs has been significant. To date GPs have vaccinated 77 per cent of all citizens vaccinated locally.”
