First Covid-19 vaccines for frontline staff 

Scarborough and York hospitals have joined the national effort to protect people most at risk from Covid-19 and yesterday 5 January 2021 started vaccinating frontline NHS staff.

Vulnerable staff and those who were shielding have been prioritised, along with patient-facing frontline healthcare workers because of their heightened risk of exposure to the virus.  As further supplies of the vaccine arrive all staff who wish to be vaccinated will have the chance to do so.

Following Government recommendations staff will receive two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, up to 12 weeks apart. York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is looking to vaccinate around 5,000 staff a week which will include staff from neighbouring NHS organisations.

The Trust is currently vaccinating with the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine.

Polly McMeekin, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development at the Trust, said: “Getting vaccinated will help protect staff and those they care for.  The vaccine should help reduce the rates of serious illness and save lives, and in turn reduce pressure on the NHS.

“Our staff are our most valuable asset and anything we can do to ensure their health and wellbeing is our top priority.  The Covid vaccination programme is a positive step along with other measures already implemented across the Trust that will help to keep our staff safe and well, allowing them to do what they are brilliant at - looking after patients and continuing to be there for everyone who needs care.”

06 January 2021