Covid vaccination 'will help us get to the other side of the pandemic' - frontline NHS worker and Leeds Dads founder Errol Murray

Errol Murray works as a partners peer supporter in the Perinatal Mental Health Service at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. He is also the founder of Leeds Dads, a charity that brings fathers together for social interaction and support.

“I feel very fortunate to have had the vaccine," he said. "It was a swift, safe and well organised experience, managed by well trained staff with professional care. The team included redeployed staff, volunteers and medics who have come back from retirement – it’s a fantastic team effort.

“Having the vaccine is so important. It will help keep me, my family and my community safe and means I’m one step closer to being able to meet up with friends and family in real life, not just virtually. Vitally, for me as a frontline NHS worker, it will protect my colleagues and my patients, some of whom are quite vulnerable.

“I’d encourage everyone to get the vaccination when it’s offered to them – it’s quick, safe and painless and will help us get to the other side of the pandemic.”

His message on vaccinations comes as the Yorkshire Evening Post continues its A Shot In The Arm campaign.

Run alongside sister titles across JPIMedia, it urges Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deploy the country’s network of 11,000 pharmacies to ensure that every citizen is only a short walk away from a vaccination centre.

Our campaign also requests further reassurance for local communities from the Government and more easy-to-access information on the vaccine programme and its progress.

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the main provider of mental health, learning disabilities and autism services in Leeds. It began its vaccination programme on January 11, concentrating efforts at a vaccination hub they set up at The Mount facility in central Leeds.

Chief operating officer Joanna Forster Adams said: “Our vaccine team has done such an amazing job setting up our vaccination programme so quickly. They’ve been prioritising staff who have regular contact with service users, the public and other staff, or who might need to come into Trust premises to work."

As of January 25, the trust had vaccinated more than 60 per cent of our staff and was making "great progress" on vaccinating inpatients too.

Ms Adams said: “I’m so proud of our team and of all those across Leeds making this happen so quickly to protect ourselves and each other. Once we’ve vaccinated our staff and service users, our hub at The Mount will become available to vaccinate members of the public.”

Also in news: Leeds hospitals warn of vaccine appointment hoax as people urged not to turn up to centres

The vaccination programme in Leeds began on December 8, the same day that Margaret Keenan - then 90 - became the first UK recipient of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.

Since then, vaccination centres have been set up by each of the city's 19 GP networks as well as at hospital hubs and two pharmacies.

A new site at Elland Road stadium has begun vaccinating the city’s frontline health and care staff, with plans to open it to the wider public in the coming weeks as teams work through the national priority list.

Dr Jason Broch, a Leeds GP and clinical chairperson of NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Groups, asked people to be patient and wait to be contacted about getting their jab.

He said: "We’re following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance on the groups that should be prioritised for vaccination. When you’re eligible to have the vaccine, you will be contacted and invited to book an appointment. Please do not contact your GP practice – the NHS will contact you.

"We understand that people are really keen to get vaccinated so they can begin to return to normal life, but please be patient. GP practices across the city are working extremely hard to book patients in for their vaccine and at the same time they are continuing to deliver their wide range of services to other patients. Waiting until you’re contacted will help keep phone lines open for people who are ill or need our help."

He also stressed that being vaccinated does not mean people can ignore the other public health guidance in place, adding: "Even when you’ve had the vaccine, it’s important to remember to still follow the current guidance and restrictions, wash your hands regularly, try to keep to the two metre distance rule where possible and wear a face covering when you’re out, including in health settings. This will help control the spread of the virus and save lives."

Visit nhs.uk/CovidVaccine to read more about the vaccination programme.

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