An Elvis impersonator, a Drag Queen & a Bake Off Winner - it's time to #MeetTheVaccinators
We shine a spotlight on the brilliant work of volunteers, doctors and nurses who are dishing out the coronavirus vaccine across the UK.
A Bake Off winner, an Elvis impersonator and a drag queen from RuPaul's Drag Race...
Just some of the people who have dedicated the last seven months of their lives to join the battle to defeat Covid-19 as part of the UK vaccination programme.
To celebrate the dedication, and hard-work of the UK's vaccine army, we're shining a spotlight on the doctors, nurses and volunteers who, jab by jab, are putting us on a path to freedom.
Among them is 2019 Bake off winner David Atherton, issuing jabs in London, former Elvis impersonator-turned-GP Andy Mason in Suffolk and Drag Race contestant Cherry Valentine dishing out the vaccine in Lancashire!
#MeetTheVaccinators
David Atherton won the Bake Off in 2019. He's now serving up vaccines in London
Elvis impersonator Dr Andy Mason vaccinated two of his backing singers, who also happen to be his daughters
Drag Race star Cherry Valentine has been part of the Vaccination programme in Lancashire (presumably not wearing those nails!)
Edgar Woodhead, on the left in his "normal" role as an airline pilot, and on the right, as a vaccinator in Ilkley, Yorkshire
Meet Jordan - Alton, North-East Hampshire
Jordan Bridge works as a flying instructor and airport duty manager at Lasham in North Hampshire. Since January he’s volunteered as a marshal at Basingstoke Fire Station.
He says it was only natural to join the rollout as the aviation sector ground to a halt again earlier this year.
“I honestly do not know what I would’ve done at times had I not volunteered in January and February.
“Work was reduced significantly, I live on my own down near Alton, so yeah it really was the biggest social contact that I had throughout the lockdown period, because otherwise everything’s just on the internet.”
He estimates he’s helped around eight thousand people since he started.
“A couple of favourite memories have been that I’ve actually seen some of my clients at work – they’ve not been expecting me.
“But also, I think more importantly, there were people coming in that had been shielding for months. Seeing those people, really, the difference it’s making, to hopefully restore their social life.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone that’s been involved in the rollout and made the volunteers feel so welcome. It’s been such an awesome experience and it really has strengthened my view that humans do some amazing things.”
Meet Alex - Basingstoke
Next up is Alex Cordwell, who joined Hampshire Fire Service in 2011. She’s been working at Basingstoke Fire Station for two years, and began helping as a vaccinator when the station became a mass vaccination site.
She recently helped the station cross a significant milestone – by delivering its 100,000th jab.
She says being the one to give that ground-breaking vaccine was “terrifying”.
“All of a sudden the whole vaccination centre stopped, and all eyes were on our little pod. But I have to say the chap we vaccinated – Neil, I think his name was – was amazing. He was like a rockstar coming down the aisle surrounded by cheering and clapping.
“It was really proud moment, and I was proud to be representing the fire service as well. They’ve given up the appliance bay so this vaccination centre can go ahead. It’s been pretty amazing.”
She also reflects on some of the people she’s come across along the way.
“I think the ones that mean the most are the people who are genuinely terrified. There was one woman who must have come in three or four times, and not managed to actually bring herself into the building. She really struggles with anxiety and hates needles.
“In the end her son brought her in. It was just nice to be part of that because I know it meant a lot to her, to have it done. She was so pleased with herself when eventually we managed to vaccinate her.”
Ms Cordwell says one of her favourite take-aways from the experience is making “some wonderful friends.
“People from all walks of life, different jobs, different backgrounds, different ages, but we’ve all come together and made some really wonderful friendships that will last beyond this short moment in time.”
Meet Cherry - North Hampshire
Cherry Brennan has been working in the NHS for twenty years, when she began training as a midwife in 2001. She’s now working as a senior matron at a mass vaccination centre run by Solent NHS Trust.
She says joining the vaccine rollout was a no-brainer.
“For people working in healthcare, particularly last year, it was a difficult thing to see this unfolding, and feeling as though you want to do everything you can to help.
“I missed my family and I wanted to be able to see them. My nan had been shielding for the best part of a year by the time the vaccination programme was up and running.
Ms Brennan adds: “I think you can relate to people you know, you can watch your colleagues, you can watch your communities. You just know you’ve some skills that can make a different to them.”
One of the highlights of her time as a vaccinator was getting a call from HRH The Duke of Cambridge, which she says was “really lovely.”
“It was really nice to be able to share our experiences with him. We talked a bit about how we support one another as staff and teams, particularly around mental health and the importance of looking after ourselves as people who are caring for other people.
“He’s very appreciative of the work that the team has done, and asked me to pass on his thanks to them for all their hard work. The team loved it - it was really nice to get that acknowledgement and that thanks. It was special.
Asked whether she would join the vaccine rollout again if she had the chance, Ms Brennan says: “Every day you come in and you know that those thousand people have passed through and you’ve made a big difference to them, to their families, to their communities. 100% - I would do it again.”
#MeetTheVaccinators: The stats
We can reveal that since the start of the UK Vaccination programme 80,000 people have signed up to be part of the fastest inoculation programme in history.
Working across more than 3500 sites, vaccinators have been issuing Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca, or Moderna jabs into arms since the 8th December 2020. 200,000 people also signed up to work as stewards to make the process run more smoothly and their commitment is paying off - so far more than 73 million vaccinations have been handed out, with more than 58% of the UK receiving both doses.
WATCH: Heather Munro signed up to support the vaccination programme to give something back to the NHS after she was involved in a car crash in 2019
All this week, we're using the hashtag #MeetTheVaccinators to celebrate their achievements and share their stories as we make the push for full vaccination, and the end of lockdown.
Vaccine roll-out gallery
What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.
What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.
What is the Moderna vaccine?
The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.
What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.
Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."
Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?
Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.
When will I receive the vaccine?
Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.
How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?
When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.
What is a vaccine passport?
The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.
Do I need a booster jab?
Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.
Will children be vaccinated?
The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.
What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?
All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.