It’s been one year since the first COVID-19 vaccinations in Scotland. During that time, over 2.1 million doses of vaccine have been delivered across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde by a huge team who have been working tirelessly, supporting members of the public to roll up their sleeves in our collective fight against the virus.
From major music venues to local community centres, in care homes, churches, town halls and sports centres, people have come forward as part of one the biggest NHS mobilisations in the organisation’s history.
The team at the Pharmacy Distribution Centre marked the anniversary with a socially distanced lunch and some cake. The team play a crucial role in ensuring that the vaccines get to community centres, sports and church halls at the right temperature and at the right time. Working 12 hours a day, 7 days per week, the team are currently processing about 50,000 COVID vaccines for distribution.
Gail Caldwell, Director of Pharmacy at NHSGGC marked the anniversary by thanking all pharmacy teams involved in the delivery of the vaccine. She said: “Our team has played a huge role in the logistics of the vaccination programme, from handling and transporting vaccines at ultra-low temperatures to venues across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to making sure that every vaccinator was fully equipped to administer vaccinations. I am so proud of the teams and all they have achieved over the past year.”
On the wider programme, Dr Linda de Caestecker, Director of Public Health at NHSGGC, said: “The COVID-19 vaccination programme has been one of the largest and fastest deployments ever undertaken and our staff, along with our local authority partners, have responded amazingly well over the course of the past 12 months.
When we started on this vaccination journey, we never expected it to run for a year and beyond, but this simply shows the ongoing importance of the programme in the fight against COVID-19.
“On the anniversary of the first vaccination, I would encourage anyone who is yet to receive their vaccination, or is due a second, third or booster dose to please book an appointment. We have had a wonderful response with people booking appointments, particularly in recent weeks, so we ask members of the public to please be patient as they may have to wait for a few days between booking and attending their appointment.”
Nurse vaccinator Paula Mcmahon, who was the first person to be vaccinated in Greater Glasgow And Clyde said: “To see so many people come forward to be vaccinated is amazing. I am so proud to have been able to play my part. It’s really important that we can all do our bit to stop our friends and loved ones from becoming seriously ill with COVID, so please come and pay us a visit, if you haven’t already. We are here to help and support you and we promise to make it as painless as possible.”