The campaign, which began in early October, has gotten off to an amazing start, with over 500 jabs being issued in the first two days. With booking support provided by NHS Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the Trust hopes that this booster programme will ensure that the hospitals are best prepared for the inevitable surge of cases in winter, protecting staff, patients, and families as best as they can.
Julie said: “The CCG has taken on booking the staff in for us, and have been averaging around 250 staff appointments a day – an incredible achievement. We are now increasing this number to between 350 and 400 a day, alongside also giving flu jabs to all hospital staff.”
It is vital that members of staff like Julie, who may work with elderly or vulnerable patients, continue to take all the precautions available to keep themselves and their patients as safe as possible.
Julie also described what happens when you come and get your booster vaccine. She said: “People are booked in through our electronic system, then they will come and read through the questionnaires to make sure that they are safe to have the vaccine. The next step is to ask the individual if they need to make us aware of anything and whether they have any potential allergy issues. We also have to check to see if they have got any COVID symptoms at the minute, that they are 28 days past having COVID if they have had it, or that it is more than 182 days since their last vaccination.
“If everything is okay with their information, they will then be called for their vaccine, where they will once again be checked to ensure that they are the person who has booked to come in. After having the jab, they are made to wait 15 minutes before leaving to make sure that they have no immediate side effects. The whole process is pretty quick, with most people being in and out within 20 minutes, including the 15-minute wait.
“As a nurse, I can’t stress how important getting your vaccine is. It’s just a small thing for those of us working within the NHS, but day and in and day out we see what difference it makes to those who are clinically vulnerable and need all the protection they can get from this horrid illness. A few moments of discomfort really can save lives – so please, if you’re yet to get your first dose, or are instead thinking about whether you should opt for the booster – please do so, it can make the world of difference.”
Aside from playing an integral role in the COVID-19 booster campaign, Julie also completes physical challenges to raise money for the NHS. On 11 September, she completed the Robin Hood 100, which is the equivalent of running more than three marathons, becoming the second woman to do so. She finished with an amazing time of 22 hours and 50 minutes and managed to raise £300 for Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital Charitable Funds.
She is also planning on taking part in the ‘Run the Wall’ event in May 2021, running 90 miles (the length of Hadrian’s Wall) for the Aurora Centre in Worksop to extend their services, in particular to support children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer.