Professor Jonathan Van-Tam talking with Jordan Burrow, Boston United FC, prior to giving him his covid vaccination
The Mass Vaccination Centre (MVC) at PRSA, Boston, today hosted Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and players from Boston United Football Club, who attended for their first covid vaccinations.
Professor Van-Tam, or JVT to use his now familiar moniker, was born and raised in Boston, Lincolnshire, and has been back to the county on several occasions to support the vaccination programme by doing shifts vaccinating people.
The two Boston United players – Jordan Burrow and Jordan Preston – took time out from their pre-season schedule to call in at PRSA MVC, and lifelong Boston United fan, Professor Van-Tam, was on shift during the players’ visit and vaccinated both of them.
“We were thrilled that JVT was able to come and do another vaccination shift for us, and I think he was particularly keen to have the opportunity to talk with the team from Boston United, and vaccinate them,” explains Rebecca Neno, Deputy Chief Nurse, NHS Lincolnshire CCG.
“Getting Jordan and Jordan here was really important because we’re particularly keen to get younger people vaccinated and get the message across about how important the vaccination is to younger people, especially as we can now vaccinate anyone aged 18 or over. We also know that men aren’t always as keen as women at coming forwards for their vaccinations, so we were really pleased to have the support of Boston United FC and its players.
“It’s really important for everyone, including younger people, to get vaccinated – you are far less likely to get covid and even more unlikely to get covid seriously, be admitted to hospital or die from covid. And getting two doses of the covid vaccination is vital. One dose will give you some protection, but you need two to get maximum protection. In addition, it’s also really important that we all continue to socially distance, follow ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ and wear face coverings.”
The visit by JVT and Boston United FC is the pre-cursor to a ‘big weekend’ of activity designed to enable more people to ‘grab a jab’ and get vaccinated. Across Lincolnshire, the NHS is running multiple walk-in events designed to make getting vaccinated easier, whereby anyone aged 18 or over can turn up at designated vaccination sites and get vaccinated without the need for an appointment – see list of walk-ins under ‘Notes to Editors’.
“We’re delighted with the uptake of the vaccination across the county so far, we’ve vaccinated hundreds of thousands of people and we’re so nearly there,” adds Rebecca. “However, if you’ve not had your vaccination yet, either first or second, it’s not too late and the walk-ins present a great opportunity to get a first vaccination or a second one if it is eight weeks or more since your first.”
In addition to the walk-ins, there is good availability for pre-booked vaccination appointments that can be booked across the county at our MVCs at Lincolnshire Showground and PRSA, Boston, as well as at pharmacies in Lincoln and Boston, and at the Meres Local Vaccination Centre in Grantham.
You can find your NHS number online here www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/find-nhs-number/ and please only attend if you are eligible – click the following link for more information on eligibility https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, with Jordan Burrow (LHS) and Jordan Preston, Boston United FC
Walk-in vaccinations will be available over the weekend at the following locations:
The Arboretum (Monks Road entrance) – mobile unit offering Pfizer walk-ins, first doses, 12pm-3pm Saturday 26th June
Newlands Pharmacy – offering Pfizer and AZ walk-ins, first and second doses, 10am-2pm Sunday 27th June
PRSA MVC, Boston – offering Pfizer and AZ walk-ins (no individual choice of vaccine, will be administered according to JCVI guidance), first and second doses, 8am-7pm Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th June
Lincolnshire Showground MVC – offering AZ only walk-ins, first and second doses for people in cohorts 1-10/aged 40 and over, 8am-7pm Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th June
Storehouse, Skegness – offering Pfizer walk-ins, first and second doses, 8.30am-5pm Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June