Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust delivers 100,000th Covid vaccine

Emmanuel Graham, aged 18, from Lewisham, received the milestone jab at University Hospital Lewisham, which opened as a mass vaccination centre in February.

At Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 21-year-old Andriana Lukulay, from Erith, received the 100,001st soon after.

Emmanuel said: “This year has been hard for everyone and we have an opportunity to return to normality by getting the vaccine - so it is so important to do so.

Chief Nurse Angela Helleur with Andriana

“I’d like to thank the NHS for making this possible.

“I normally don’t like getting vaccinations but the whole process was really smooth and painless and it didn’t take long at all.”

Andriana said: “I’m going to study nursing from September at university, so it’s so important that I get the vaccine to keep myself and patients safe when I go on placements.

“I’d urge everyone to get the vaccine and thank the NHS staff who are providing it. It was also lovely to meet the Chief Nurse at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust and get useful advice and encouragement for a career in nursing.”

Despite the progress, Lewisham is one of nine local authority areas in England where less than half of 18 to 24-year-olds are estimated to have received a first dose of vaccine.

The figure currently lies at 48.5%. 

If you live in south east London and are eligible for a Covid vaccination, you can get it from a number of walk-in and pop-up clinics – visit https://selondonccg.nhs.uk for more information.

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