Mass vaccinations begin for care home workers

Care homes all over the country are booking their care workers in for COVID-19 vaccinations.

With care workers at the top of the priority list, many care homes are acting quickly and getting their staff vaccinated against coronavirus which has caused nearly 20,000 deaths in care homes in the UK this year.

The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) has already booked 36 of its staff from Beckside care home in Lincoln into Lincoln County Hospital. Ten more care workers are booked in for tomorrow.

Care home staff in Oxford, Henley and Chipping Norton are also booking in for their Pfizer/BioNtech vaccinations and Gloucestershire colleagues have bookings available at Redwood Education Centre at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for all team members. OSJCT is working closely with local authorities and hospitals to ensure care staff in Wiltshire, Sussex and Suffolk have the same opportunity as soon as possible.

Andrea Brooks, home manager at Beckside, had her vaccination on the first day they began being administered.

'This is a great way to keep our residents as safe as possible'

She said: “As soon as we were informed that the booking system was live, we worked late last night to ensure that we could secure some slots. The response from my colleagues was great with so many willing to get the vaccination on days off or outside working hours because they know this is a great way to keep our residents as safe as possible.

“Having this vaccine available has really brought up spirits in the home – there’s a very positive feeling from all the team.”

Caroline Dunagan, OSJCT regional director for Lincolnshire, said: “Vaccination presents the best way forward to return to normality in our homes and we will continue to support all residents and colleagues in getting access to it.”

Patsy Just, OSJCT regional director for Oxfordshire, added: “It is excellent news that colleagues across the county are securing bookings so early in the process. Their commitment and skill have been inspiring for the past nine months.”

'Finally some good news to come out of this pandemic'

Orchard Care Homes was another care provider quick off the mark.

The care provider for older people in Yorkshire, has ensured 30 members of staff at one of their homes were ready for the first round of vaccination at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Mellisa Thompson, home manager, collated colleagues’ details at very short notice as Penwortham Grange & Lodge only received notification from the hospital on Monday afternoon that bookings were available.

Orchard’s chief executive, Hayden Knight, said “This is absolutely brilliant news and I’m really proud of the team at Penwortham for organising everything so quickly. It is testament to the ongoing hard work of Orchard Care Homes staff that we were prepared to become one of the first recipients of this vaccine. Finally, some good news to come out of this awful pandemic.”

Details on how the vaccination will be rolled out to care home residents are expected shortly.

click here for more details or to contact The Orders of St John Care Trust