A Covid-19 vaccination programme at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is going "fantastically" as the trust aims to protect all members of staff against the virus by next month.

The staff vaccination pogramme at Oxleas was launched last week, and within a few days all 900 appointments avaiable with the first batch of vaccines were booked up.

The first jabs are to be given to NHS workers in the mental health and community health services and will continue over the coming weeks. 

Patient-facing, clinical staff and our clinically extremely vulnerable members of staff are encouraged to book their appointments first.

The NHS trust wants to vaccinate all members of staff by the end of February.

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On the first full day of the programme, chief executive Matthew Trainer went along to the vaccination site at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.

Dr Abimbola Fadipe, our Deputy Medical Director and older adult consultant psychiatrist, was one of the first colleagues to receive her vaccination. “I’d like to encourage all staff, particularly those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, to book an appointment to be vaccinated,” she said.

“It is so important that we all play our part in beating this virus.”

Mr Trainer said: “It’s great to see Abi leading the way. Our best chance to beat this virus is by having the vaccination.”

Another batch of vaccines in the next few days and staff will be able to book an appointment for their vaccination as soon as we have had confirmation of delivery.