Praise for Sunderland's 'incredible vaccinators' as roll-out steams ahead in city

Houghton and Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson visited the Houghton vaccination centre at the weekend to witness first-hand the work being done to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine locally, and thank those involved with this effort.

The site, at Houghton Primary Care Centre, is one of six GP-led centres across Sunderland which is administering the vaccine.

A mass vaccination centre at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North East also opened on January 26.

Ms Phillipson said: "This vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel - giving us hope that before long, we will be able to see and spend time with friends and loved ones once again.

"Thanks to the incredible work of local vaccinators, rapid progress is being made across Sunderland. I would like to put on record my sincere gratitude to them for the vitally important job they are doing at this challenging time.

“The sooner the vaccine is rolled out, the sooner we can begin to recover from this crisis. That's why it is so important that local people continue to follow public health guidelines, and take up the offer of a vaccine when they receive an invitation from the NHS."

RELATED: Prime Minister Boris Johnson praises Sunderland's vaccine effort

Dr. Neil O’Brien, clinical Accountable Officer for NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: "We have made a significant step towards ensuring our most vulnerable patients gain significant increased protection against the Covid-19 virus and I’m delighted to share that, as well as completing care home vaccinations in Sunderland, we are on track to have vaccinated all of the top four priority groups by the end of next week.”

"Remember, for our communities to be fully protected, it is important that we continue to follow the stay safe rules and have your vaccination when it is your turn."

The Sunderland Echo and its sister titles across the country are running the Shot in the Arm campaign, calling on the Government to take a number of steps to help boost the vaccine roll-out, including enlisting the UK’s network of community pharmacies to help deliver vaccinations.

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