An Aylesbury resident who was one of the first people to have the coronavirus vaccine at the town’s latest centre, has reiterated the importance of having the jab if invited.
Ray Watson, who lives in Aston Clinton, visited the town’s Buckinghamshire New University campus on Monday, February, 8 – the same day as the centre’s opening.
He is one of many people across the country to have the vaccine, as Covid-19 continues to spread across the UK.
He said: “We got the notification about four days ago through my daughter who organised it.
The vaccination centre at Aylesbury's BNU campus opened on Feb 8
“It was quite relaxed and they [the vaccine administrators] made you feel relaxed and it was fine.
“The last year hasn’t been too bad but it’s thinking about the others, so you have got to be grateful.
READ MORE: Take a look around Bucks' latest coronavirus vaccination centre
“And it is extremely important because what’s the alternative? You die and that’s it.
“It’s very important to have the vaccine if you have been invited.”
The centre is the third location in the town to be offering the vaccine with Stoke Mandeville Stadium and the Odeon Cinema, but it is the first to be organised in Aylesbury by Oxford Health.
OH is the lead provider for mass vaccination outlets across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and West Berkshire.
And after a busy first day, Nicola Leavesley, who is the assistant operations director for the Covid programme at the Oxford Healthcare Foundation Trust, hopes more vaccinations will occur over the coming weeks.
She said: “The invites are distributed nationally, so if you fall into a category, you will receive a letter and you will have the choice so you can book it straight away or you can wait until you get an invite from your GP.
“So far, it has been really well received.
The vaccination centre at Aylesbury's BNU campus is on Walton Street
“The patients and members of the public so far have been very grateful and happy to be here, and the staff are working really hard.”
The first day of vaccinations at the BNU campus in Aylesbury opened at 9.30am and will shut at 5.30pm, but from the Tuesday onwards, the centre will be open from 8am to 8pm.
She continued: “We’ve spread out the appointments throughout the day so we can manage the flow and that there isn’t a queue taking place.
“We would really encourage people who have got the invite, to please go online and book your slots as soon as you can.
“It is really important for everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible when you get that invitation.
Walton Street Car Park in Aylesbury
“Everyone here really wants to help you and if you have any questions, there is a lot of brilliant information on the NHS and Government websites.
“We also have some very knowledgeable staff here you can also give guidance and advice.”
For more information on vaccination centres, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine.
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