Councillors from the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group are calling on members of our community to do their part and join them by helping at local vaccination centres. The need to increase the speed of vaccine rollout has become increasingly more important, and with that the need for volunteers has also risen.

The calls issued today are part of a longer campaigning effort in which our Councillors have encouraged everyone to receive their first, second or booster jabs.

Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Spokesperson for Health said:

“I understand many people’s frustrations about the Tory government’s hypocrisy that has been revealed in recent weeks, but it’s vitally important that we don’t allow that to undermine the NHS’s vaccination rollout. Vaccination is about public health and protecting ourselves and our loved ones.

“I would therefore encourage as many people as possible to volunteer at vaccination centres – I continue to give my time to help our community in this way when I am able to do so. There is a desperate need for volunteers right now as the clinics are rightfully being moved to 7-days a week service. The government should also get on with recruiting a properly paid vaccine workforce instead of taking practitioners away from their normal jobs in primary care. The crisis in GP appointments is being made worse by their failure to do this.”

Cllr Lauren Edwards, Member for Rochester East said: 

“I have once again donned my high vis vaccination steward vest to help out at the Pentagon’s vaccination centre. We know booster jabs work and will give us extra protection this winter. A recent study of people aged over 50 showed that a booster provided over 90% protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection. I’ve had my booster and I encourage everyone to get theirs as soon as they can to protect both themselves and our community.”

Cllr Chrissy Stamp, member for Watling added:

“The latest statistics regarding Omicron cases in our region highlight the importance of everyone getting their booster jabs in this Christmas period. There were 15,000 confirmed Omicron cases in the South East yesterday, but the true number is still undoubtedly higher.

“Just like many of my Labour Group colleagues, I’ve been one of the thousands of people across the country who decided to volunteer to help the vaccine rollout. It’s now as important as ever to sign up as more volunteers are desperately needed as we look to ramp up the speed at which Medway is being vaccinated.”

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and the Co-operative Group said:

“I’ve spent a lot of time over the last year volunteering at the Pentagon’s vaccination centre. It’s been an absolute pleasure working alongside the excellent NHS staff and other volunteers. To personally see the way people from different backgrounds have pulled together to try and help defeat this virus gives me great pride in Medway, and great pride in our country.

“While a lot of the focus has rightly been on booster jabs, I’d like to reiterate that it’s not too late to play your part by receiving your first or second vaccine if you haven’t done so yet. I would encourage anyone with lingering doubts about whether it’s good to take the vaccine to read the National Health Service article online which explains why taking the vaccine is both safe and very important.” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-safe-and-important/

Notes

The NHS article Cllr Maple referred to – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-safe-and-important/

Source for statistics cited by Cllr Stamp (Watling) – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1043466/20211222_OS_Daily_Omicron_Overview.pdf

Source for statistic cited by Cllr Edwards (Rochester East) – https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19latestinsights/vaccines

For more information about registering to volunteer – https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteer/volunteer-roles/steward-volunteer