The NHS is launching a drive to recruit 10,000 vaccination workers today on the anniversary of the first Pfizer jab being delivered.
The NHS made history when Margaret Keenan received the jab at Coventry a year ago, launching the NHS vaccination programme, the world’s first national effort to protect people against the virus.
Twelve months on, NHS staff are expected to deliver the 100 millionth jab as the health service again ramps up the vaccination programme in response to the new threat from the Omicron variant.
‘One year ago today, the NHS made history when Maggie Keenan was the first person to receive a Pfizer vaccination outside a clinical trial,’ said NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard.
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‘Maggie’s jab marked the launch of the world’s first national vaccination programme – watched around the globe it was a moment of hope after months of fear. Since that point, the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme, the biggest and fastest in our history, has delivered almost 100 million jabs, protecting tens of millions of us against the virus.’
However, despite great initial success, the COVID Vaccination programme is now in its most complex phase yet and the NHS is calling on everyone to play their part in the new ‘national mission’.
Now, 10,000 new roles are being advertised to help the health service provide boosters to millions more people from across the country. New jobs include vaccinators, admin staff and healthcare support workers – depending on demand in local areas. The NHS is also working with the Royal Voluntary Service and St John, to drum up the support of more than 42,000 volunteers.
‘The rollout would not have been as successful as it has been without the help of thousands of volunteers who have given over one million hours to deliver vaccines and help us save thousands of lives,’ added Ms Pritchard.
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‘Now the NHS is ramping up its vaccine drive once again as millions more become eligible for their booster, sooner, following updated Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation guidance, and so we are now recruiting 10,000 more staff to help us in our national mission.’