The Covid-19 vaccination roll-out commenced at Etchingham Village Hall the day before yesterday, Wednesday January 20, and we have a first hand report from David Worwood who drove his parents there. But there is an alternative way of getting there as Pat Hughes from Rye and District Community Buses explains.
Anthony Kimber provides an update and commentary on the big picture, and what our MP and others have been pressing for, and, if this is the turning point in the pandemic, Dee Alsey takes us on a journey through the past months.
We are told that all the priority groups should be vaccinated by February 15 by the Prime Minister, and I assume I am included, writes Charles Harkness, as I am 78 with severe chest problems (even having my own nebuliser at home) - but, as I was not shielded last year by the NHS, I am not too confident about the NHS's record keeping.
Witnessing the launch
But, back to the first day of the Etchingham jabs. Barry Nealon, chairman of the Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital Charitable Trust, writes Kenneth Bird, drove across to witness the start of the programme, and about 400 people received their injections, and the same number would be treated daily ongoing.
For Rye and District residents, the Community Bus service will be available each day to ferry those unable to travel by other means. Pat Hughes, Operations Manager, has offered free of charge travel to ensure that everyone needing to make the journey can do so and her full staff are available to drive the buses. Pat's phone number is 01797 227722.
Barry Nealon was impressed with the facility at Etchingham, describing it as a beautifully-organised establishment. There were separate rooms for waiting, and form registration; then into the hall to the six-bay protected area for vaccination and finally into another large room where some twenty people were resting for 15 minutes to check the absence of side effects.
The vaccine used at Etchingham is the Pfizer vaccine. Barry Nealon ascertained from speaking with the regional organiser that when the AstraZeneca vaccine becomes more available it creates the opportunity to administer closer to Rye.
