Firefighters, support staff and volunteers have been thanked for their work in transforming Basingstoke Fire Station into a Covid-19 vaccination centre.
The fire station’s appliance bay was transformed into a vaccination centre, run by Solent NHS Trust, and more than 100,000 vaccinations have been given there since it opened on 1 February.
With Solent NHS Trust delivering the centre’s final vaccinations tonight (10 September), all those involved have been thanked for helping to make it such a success.
Angela Anderson, Clinical Director of the Vaccination Programme at Solent NHS Trust said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service who have been terrific partners throughout the vaccination programme.
“Basingstoke Fire Station has been a brilliant vaccination centre in the heart of the community and we’ve welcomed firefighters to our vaccination team.
“We also want to thank all the volunteers and staff who have worked at the Basingstoke vaccination centre since it opened in February of this year; it’s been incredible to see people’s positive responses when they’ve been vaccinated.”
Station Commander at Basingstoke, Rich Oram, said:
“Transforming our fire station into a vaccination centre has been a huge team effort involving many people across our organisation.
“We are so proud of the way everyone has come together to make this a success, from the firefighters who have worked as vaccinators, to our amazing NHS colleagues and all the many volunteers.
“So many people have worked tirelessly to ensure the station has continued to function and provide its operational cover and we must also thank our local community for their support.
“This has been a hugely important partnership between Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and the NHS.”
COVID-19 vaccinations will still be available locally from Jameson House in Lutyens Close, Chineham.
And walk-in sessions are due to take place for those eligible for their first or second vaccinations at the following fire stations this month:
- St Mary’s Fire Station, Southampton, 10 September: midday – 6pm
- Hightown Fire Station, Southampton, 13 September: midday – 6pm
- Cosham Fire Station, Portsmouth, 22 September: midday – 7pm
- St Mary’s Fire Station, Southampton, 24 September: midday – 6pm
- Hightown Fire Station, Southampton, 27 September: midday – 6pm