Healthcare workers across Kent have started to receive the Covid-19 vaccination.

Helen Gremo, a Community Respiratory Practitioner, who works at Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, was the first frontline worker in the county to receive the vaccination today at Aylesham Health Centre.

It comes as part of the government's plan to start rolling out the vaccine to high-risk groups, including patient facing healthcare workers, and NHS staff.

Helen, who joins more than 600,000 people across the UK who have received the vaccine so far, said: “For me, my priority is protecting patients. Working in a respiratory team, we have a responsibility to support the vaccination programme.

"If I can reduce my risk, it means I am protecting my patients and supporting colleagues as I am not going to be off work.’’

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) is delivering the programme in Aylesham and is also supporting the vaccination of care home workers and staff from other NHS trusts.

The site joins those already up and running in Kent vaccinating people in priority groups recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Community Nursing Team Leader Naomi Meakins had her first dose of the vaccination on her way to work at Deal Community Clinic.

The mum-of-two said: “We see vulnerable people all the time, so we are not only protecting ourselves, we are protecting our patients. I have got a young family and I need to be fit and well for them.’’

Figures in Kent have continued to rise despite the county entering Tier 4 restrictions thought to be brought on by a new, faster spreading, variant of the virus.

There have been 697.4 cases per 100,000 people recorded in the last seven days, that's 243.6 more than the previous week.

Dr Meera Patel is a GP at Folkestone Urgent Treatment Centre. As a diabetic who is patient-facing every day, she was really pleased to be able to have her vaccination.

Meanwhile, having the jab may enable Discharge Manager Philippa Toy to rejoin her colleagues at the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

Philippa has not been able to work in the hospital since March because she has a respiratory condition that makes her high-risk.

Instead she has been working at home, but is desperate to return to support her colleagues.

KCHFT’s Medical Director and Faversham GP Dr Sarah Phillips is urging everyone to have the vaccination when invited to reduce the spread of the virus and help to bring an end to the pandemic.

She said: “I am so proud of the work the teams from Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust have done during the pandemic.

"Each and every one of them has put their life on hold in one way or another to do the very best for our patients, clients and service users.

“We know our patient-facing colleagues are more at risk of contracting Covid-19 in the course of their work and it’s a special day to watch the first of our staff, alongside our colleagues in care homes, come forward to be protected against the virus.

“The recent rise in cases and emergence of a new variant of the virus shows that we cannot let our guard down.

"As a GP, I will absolutely be having the vaccine when it is my turn and I am pleased to see so many people taking up the offer of the vaccine when invited.

"It’s safe, effective and offers us the best possible chance to bring an end to the pandemic.”

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