Armed forces medics back to help most vulnerable on Fylde coast get vaccine

The NHS has joined forces with the Army, RAF and Navy to give COVID-19 vaccinations to housebound people in the area.

From this week, they will be visiting housebound people living across the Fylde Coast to give them their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.

Dr Ben Butler-Reid, a Blackpool GP and clinical director for NHS Blackpool and NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups, inset, said: “A common theme of the response to this pandemic has been everyone pitching in and doing their bit to help us through the crisis.

“We are delighted that the Armed Forces have joined the Fylde Coast vaccination efforts which have helped us to provide vaccinations to nearly 2,000 housebound people in the area.

“I would like to thank all those military medics who have supported the vaccination programme on behalf of everyone in the local NHS.”

The latest round of military-supported vaccinations follows a scheme in north Blackpool and Fleetwood earlier this year, when teams from the Armed Forces first joined the vaccination programme.

Lieutenant Holly-Jane Thurgood, a registered mental health nurse and cognitive behavioural therapist with the Royal Navy, said: “We are honoured to work alongside our wonderful NHS partners.

"“The North West vaccination programme has, and continues to have, a significant positive impact across the region. Next week we will again be assisting on the Fylde Coast. It is a great example of teamwork and wonderful to see the NHS and military working side by side.”

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