Closing the doors on The Street
Today, our NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre on The Street at Westfield, Stratford closed its doors to the public. The closure marks the end of Barts Health’s role in delivering Covid-19 vaccines at vaccination centres, which it began in January this year – first at ExCeL London and subsequently The Street. The Trust will still provide vaccines to staff and members of the public via its outreach service.
The centre at The Street opened in June, and has been offering first and second doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. In the short period of time it’s been open, the team at the centre have delivered over 37,000 vaccines to the people of east London and beyond.
“It’s been a monumental team effort” explains Suzette Fernandes, Clinical Operations Manager for the vaccination centre on The Street. “The hard work and dedication that the whole team has showed – from those who set up the centre and work behind the scenes to run it, to the front-of-house staff, volunteers and security and those delivering the jabs – has been incredible. I’m so proud of them all and I hope they’re proud of themselves.”
Jan Flint, Managing Director for The Street continues: “Many of the team working with us at The Street – from the St John Ambulance team and London Ambulance Service staff, to the Barts Health Volunteers and our own Barts Health staff – also worked with us at the vaccination centre at ExCeL London. It’s incredible to think that since January this year, collectively across both centres and with our outreach work, we have delivered over 180,000 Covid-19 vaccines*.
“It’s been a privilege for all of us to be involved in the vaccine roll-out and in getting us all back to doing the things we love with the people we love. It’s something we’ll never forget and will always be proud to have been part of.”
She continues, “I’d also like to thank the staff at Westfield Stratford who have been brilliant to work with and have supported us every step of the way.”
Andrew Hines, group director for corporate development, and the individual who oversees all of Barts Health vaccination work echoes his thanks: “It’s incredible to think that in less than a year, Barts Health staff, together with our partners and local communities, have delivered hundreds of thousands of Covid-19 vaccines to the people of east London and beyond. It’s an amazing achievement and I would like to thank everyone involved.
“As this chapter of our work in delivering vaccines at vaccination centres draws to a close, we remain committed to delivering vaccines via our outreach services and to our staff.”
While the centre is closing its doors, Barts Health are still very much in the vaccines business. The outreach work we do delivering Covid-19 vaccines in the community – including at religious venues including mosques and churches – will continue. And we will be providing first, second and booster vaccines health and social care workers and our own staff.
*This number excludes Covid-19 vaccines delivered at our hospital hubs.
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