The booster vaccination campaign began on Wednesday 6 October at the Trust, which operates Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Montagu Hospital and Bassetlaw Hospital, and has been an overwhelming success. With an appointment system implemented, staff have been proactive in responding to a text message which informs them of the date, time, and location of their booster jab, booking in as appropriate.
Julie Wragg, the Clinical Lead for Vaccinations at DBTH and Registered Nurse, said: “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 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.”
23-year-old Ben works in the Paediatric department at Doncaster Royal Infirmary as a Ward Clerk, and regularly comes into contact with a variety of patients across the whole of the hospital. Even though he is of an age where he would not be considered extremely vulnerable to the virus, he is very aware of how important it is to protect himself and others from COVID-19 by getting his booster vaccine.
Speaking about this, Ben said: “I wanted to get the booster to make sure that I am protected, so overall I think it’s a really good idea to have it. I got the first one when the government allowed us to do so, and when I was offered it by my Trust, I made sure to sign-up straight away.
“By doing so, I think we can start to get back to normal, all go on holiday, and start living our lives again – we just have to all play our part.”
The rolling out of the booster jab follows on from the flu vaccination campaign, which began on 20 September and has seen over 4,000 members of staff receive their jabs. This campaign, alongside the issuing of the COVID-19 booster jabs, will put the Trust in a far stronger position to tackle the surge in cases that the Trust may experience as winter proceeds.
David Purdue, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse, said: “We’ve been overawed by the efforts of our vaccinators, as well as the enthusiasm shown by colleagues in receiving their jabs. Team DBTH have been working hard in their fight against COVID-19, and as winter arrives we will begin to see cases of both flu and norovirus, in addition to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Therefore, it is vitally important that staff are taking the opportunity to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their friends, family and loved ones.”
Health professionals at the Trust are continuing to urge local people to adhere to Government guidelines on Covid-19, particularly stressing the importance of hands, face, and space. Visitors to the hospitals can also help in the fight against the winter illnesses by not coming to the Trust to see relatives and friends in hospital if they have any COVID-19, flu, or cold symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches and fatigue. A full list of visiting restrictions can be viewed here: https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/coronavirus-need-know/
