A call to arms

The vaccination hub at the Novotel Hotel in Brighton-le-Sands jabbed its last client late on Sunday 5 September. Over the 20 days it was in action, the hub delivered more than 22,000 Pfizer vaccinations for the priority groups of essential workers aged 16 to 59 years from local government areas (LGAs) of concern.

Karen Tuqiri, A/Director of Nursing and Midwifery, SESLHD, said: “From before we opened the doors until we waved farewell to our last client, it was all hands on deck.”

“Thanks must go to everyone who was involved in such a huge task. Everyone pulled together and treated each other, and our clients, with huge smiles. We received some very favourable feedback from many of the people we vaccinated,” Ms Tuqiri said.

A huge thank you to everyone who put their hands up to help staff the hub – which operated between 8:00am to 9.00pm every day.  Staff from right across the District pitched in to help with wayfinding, registration and of course preparing and administering the vaccinations.

As well as the walk-in vaccination clinics that Population and Community Health are currently running, plans are being finalised to establish a new hub in the eastern suburbs to ensure the local community has easy access to vaccinations.