Care home chief becomes a COVID-19 vaccine volunteer

The acting chief executive of the Independent Care Group (ICG) has signed up to do her bit in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bev Proctor has become a COVID-19 vaccine volunteer to help tackle the pandemic.

Ms Proctor who will be providing the vaccine from a GP surgery in her hometown of York said: “Given the need to get the vaccine out quickly, particularly to vulnerable groups, it felt like the least I could do to contribute.

“It is so important to get the vaccine administered across the country and I’m happy to do what I can to help.”

Ms Proctor joined the ICG as its operations director in 2018 and has since become acting chief executive. Prior to that her career had been predominantly in healthcare.

Mike Padgham, chair of the ICG, said he was proud of her decision.

“This is typical of Bev, who is a very selfless and generous person, to give up her time to support the vaccination programme.

“And as a registered nurse, anyone getting the vaccine from Bev will be in very good hands.”

More than 6.3 million people in the UK have now received their first dose

The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus.

In England, the vaccine is being offered in some hospitals and pharmacies, at hundreds of local vaccination centres run by GPs and at larger vaccination centres. More centres are opening all the time.

It is currently being given to:

• people aged 80 and over

• some people aged 70 and over

• some people who are clinically extremely vulnerable

• people who live or work in care homes

• health and social care workers

More than 6.3 million people in the UK have now received their first dose and a record-breaking 491,970 were vaccinated in one day. This means the country is on track to meet the government's target of vaccinating 15 million of the most vulnerable by mid-February.