Newest Shrewsbury vaccine hub transformation is a historic achievement
"I had all the staff in this morning and just told them to take a moment to look around and take it in. It feels really positive here. It's part of history."
Those are the words of Mel France, the operations manager responsible for transforming Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre into a Covid-19 vaccination hub with 1,000-capacity in just three days.
More than 380 Salopians received their Oxford/Astra Zeneca jabs yesterday at the centre in Sundorne as the vaccine roll out gathers pace.
The centre is used to roll outs of a different kind, usually by pensioners in polo shirts. But now the lawn is covered with thick, spongy flooring to be able to handle the hordes of people that will travel through in the coming weeks and months.
It was hard work to set everything up and get all the equipment ready, but Mel was pleased to see a plan come together. "It's been busy but it's been a privilege. The voluntary sector has been amazing.
"People have been coming in really positive and they're so happy to be getting their vaccines."
Farmer John Hughes, 72, from Pontesbury, was the first to receive his jab. There have been concerns about getting farm workers and people in rural communities vaccinated due to a typical mindset of wanting to carry on working regardless, and a view shared by some that the virus might be slower to reach them.
John was keen to get vaccinated and is glad to have had it. "It's nice to have it done," he said. "I do live in a village and work on my own so I might be safer than someone who has to see lots of people, but I still got the vaccine and I think it's important that people get it.
"I've not been too badly affected by the lockdowns because the life of a farmer can be quite a lonely existence anyway. I have missed seeing friends in the village, so hopefully I'll be able to do that again soon. It will have been more difficult for people used to mixing with a lot of others."
Stuart and Gill Rogers, from Hadnall, were also early birds at Sundorne. Retired electrician Stuart is looking forward to going for a game of golf when it's all over, and Gill, a former finance manager, joked that she's looking forward to him going so he's out from under her feet.
She added: "It's a relief to get the vaccine. We had a letter last week and on Friday this centre was online for bookings.
"I'm just looking forward to getting back to seeing friends and family and being able to go out for a drink.
"We do have our family that have been living with us so it's quite cosy."
They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August, but weren't able to mark it quite in the style they had hoped. "We shall do something when we can," said Stuart.
Gill felt that it was going well at the centre despite a few teething troubles. She added: "I think everybody should be applauded for giving up their time."
Many retired medical workers have returned to the profession to help with the national campaign, including Bharti Patel-Smith, who retired as director of governance and involvement for the Shropshire CCG in 2017. She is one of the clinical leads for nursing at the Shrewsbury hub.
She couldn't resist getting involved and was enjoying the excitement of being back.
"We're making sure people are prepared and guiding them through the process so they know what's happening," she said.
"Once you're a nurse, you're always a nurse, and you just want to support your colleagues. They're been working flat out and you just want to help if you can.
"I really want people to be vaccinated so we can get out of this difficult situation that we're in.
"It's really buzzy. People are happy and appreciative to get their jabs. The team here have been amazing."
