Fire crews support vaccination booster push

As the push to get as many people vaccinated as possible with boosters continues, crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) have been helping make sure the vaccines are going where they need to go.

Throughout the vaccine rollout, the support of our partners across the emergency services, councils and voluntary sector has been vital in making sure we’re able to vaccinate as many people as possible across Kent and Medway.

As the work to offer all eligible over 18s a booster vaccination by 31 December goes on, more vaccine has been needed than ever before.

In the past week, officers from KFRS have been helping to collect thousands of vaccines from hospitals across Kent and Medway, and delivering them to vaccination centres, in support of the national booster programme. 

Without this support, centres would have struggled to have access to the vaccines they need to run clinics as the programme massively intensified at speed during the past few days.

'really proud' 

Chris Else, Assistant Director for Resilience at KFRS, said: “Since the start of the pandemic, we have offered our assistance wherever we can, from delivering meals to vulnerable people in partnership with Age UK, to co-ordinating the procurement and delivery of thousands of items of PPE. 

“We are now using that experience to support the rapid upscaling of the booster programme across the county. 

“As well as transporting the vaccines, we also have colleagues who have volunteered to assist with the running of vaccination centres, while continuing to support those within the charity and voluntary sectors who help those who are most vulnerable.

“We’re really proud to be part of this united response with our partner agencies and hope our efforts help to make a difference.”  

'invaluable' 

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group’s Chief Nurse Paula Wilkins said: “The support we have received from KRFS has been invaluable in the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination across Kent and Medway.

“From assisting in the setting up and running of clinics to making sure deliveries of the vaccine get to clinics on time, their help is hugely appreciated.”