Fire service staff have been trained by St. John Ambulance, as part of a volunteer scheme to help deliver the NHS vaccination program.
administer the vaccine
Staff including firefighters, officers, and support were trained to administer the vaccine and to support people as they go through the vaccination process.
The volunteers will complete up to two shifts a month with St. John Ambulance as part of the huge national effort to get the country vaccinated.
skills, training, and opportunity
Chief Fire Officer - Alex Johnson, said, “No matter what the challenge is, fire and rescue service staff are ready, willing, and able to help our communities wherever it is needed."
Staff who have volunteered really can’t wait to get out to a vaccination center to support this effort"
He adds, “I am very proud of every member of staff who has stepped forward so far to receive this training and incredibly grateful to St. John Ambulance for giving us the skills, training, and opportunity to do our bit. I and the other staff who have volunteered really can’t wait to get out to a vaccination center to support this monumental national effort.”
delivering food and medicine
Fire and rescue staff have already delivered more than 120,000 vaccines nationally. In South Yorkshire, the fire service has supported the local response to the pandemic by delivering food and medicine to isolated people, distributing more than 1.3 million pieces of PPE to frontline health workers, and working with military planners to identify vaccination sites.
Some firefighters also volunteered to drive ambulances during the first wave. The service was recently presented with an award by the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Carole O’Neill in recognition of its work during the pandemic.
