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No one left behind by our vaccine taskforce
As part of the campaign to encourage and provide vaccination against COVID-19, we have supported the regional effort to protect our community.
A successful in-house vaccination programme for staff, other health and social care colleagues, and clinically vulnerable patients began on 4 January 2021, and has so far delivered more than 38,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Our Trust is currently among the highest in the region for staff uptake of vaccination, with 97% and 95% having received first and second doses respectively, and 92% of eligible staff having received the booster dose.
At the end of 2021, we were asked by the Suffolk and North East Essex integrated care system (SNEE) to support community vaccination this winter in response to the national surge in vaccination delivery.
Our vaccine taskforce, a range of healthcare professionals and non-clinical colleagues, began work on 15 December 2021, and embraces the motto “No one left behind”. It has delivered more than 2,800 vaccinations in locations from town centres to care homes, and reached out to vulnerable individuals such as those isolated at home, with mental health issues or learning disabilities.
After running a series of walk-in events in Sudbury and Haverhill, our staff are now providing vaccinations in a number of community settings, including places where the main focus is on children over 12 and young people, meeting local need. At a recent clinic in an education setting, 30% of vaccines delivered were first doses.
In Sudbury Town Hall more than 2,000 vaccines were given, of which between 10 and 15% were first doses, with high demand from young people aged between 12 and 15. In Haverhill more than 470 people received the vaccine, and the team is now also running events in Brandon. Within the hospital staff take every opportunity to offer it to eligible patients and relatives. Meanwhile, our pharmacy has worked collaboratively with partners to ensure good availability of vaccine and consumables within the local healthcare system.
Team manager Michael Round said, “We have been able to spend time with people who were anxious, hesitant, or in need of information, and this has improved take-up. As a paramedic I have brought in other paramedics to join the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and therapists on the team, and these diverse skills help us to engage effectively with a wider range of patients.”
Michael explained that with Alliance partners including the Clinical Commissioning Group, West Suffolk Council, Suffolk County Council, public health and other vaccination providers, our vaccination team is supporting people with needs such as neurodivergence or severe mental health issues to access the vaccine. He said: “We will continue to provide the service in a way that works for individuals’ complex needs, through existing provision and using the resources and skills available to us as an acute hospital.”
Our Trust's head of performance Joanna Rayner, who leads the vaccination team on behalf of the Trust, said: “Delivering a successful vaccination programme is a real team effort: IT enable bookings through our purpose-built system; the facilities team make sure locations were suitable and safe; volunteers support a smooth flow through the clinic; our pharmacy colleagues ensure vaccine provision; and purchasing staff provide everything from plasters to vaccine cards. Not forgetting the car parking team managing traffic, porters and security, and staff volunteers offering their skills as front of house and site management.”
Joanna said she could not be prouder of everyone who has been part of the campaign. “Everyone has consistently risen to the challenge to ensure the population in west Suffolk has been able to access a vaccination – and it isn’t too late. We are still running clinics and the team are here to make sure everyone is able to receive a vaccination to protect themselves.”
For information about accessing a vaccination visit the SNEE vaccine website: https://sneevaccine.org.uk/
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