Meet Sheffield's unsung heroes helping to 'save our communities' in Covid-19 battle

Pharmacists from Sheffield have played a major role in vaccinating 130,000 city residents so far in the fight against Covid-19.
Pharmacists like Akshay Phatak have been boosting the vaccination effort in SheffieldPharmacists like Akshay Phatak have been boosting the vaccination effort in Sheffield
Pharmacists like Akshay Phatak have been boosting the vaccination effort in Sheffield

The Star called on the Government to make use of the 11,000 pharmacies across the country to deliver vaccinations in a campaign. Now more details of the vital role they have been playing can be revealed.

A team of 15 clinical pharmacists from the NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group’s medicines optimisation team have been working at local vaccination centres in primary care networks across the city to support practice staff in delivering the vaccinations.

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The team have been involved from the very start of the programme, from initially visiting PCN sites to assess their suitability, through to the continued day to day support in clinics.

Many of the pharmacists are trained vaccinators and have been administering the vaccine to patients. Others have been involved in the preparation and safe storage of the vaccinations.

Dr Jennie Joyce, GP and clinical lead for Foundry PCN, said: “Clinical pharmacists are an integral part of the teams delivering the Covid vaccination in primary care. “They have been involved from the start, often giving up their own free time and working extra hours to provide pharmaceutical oversight to the vaccination clinics.

“The pharmacists are just one group of unsung heroes that have been helping support the effort to vaccinate people.”

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Akshay Phatak, a pharmacists working at the local vaccination centre at Foundry PCN, said: “I am proud to be part of national Covid vaccination programme, in a meaningful way, with my skills as a pharmacist.

“It’s immensely rewarding to support the vaccination team for array of pharmaceutical matters. We support the vaccinators for standard operating procedures and I’m also a vaccinator myself. .

“We have to save our communities, including care homes, from this fatal disease and pharmacists, like myself, will do our best to play our role helping the NHS.”

Patients over 65 in Sheffield, and those with underlying health conditions, will be invited for their vaccine once the top four priority groups have been completed.

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People aged over 70, or those who are extremely clinically vulnerable, who haven’t been invited for their vaccination yet are being encouraged to book an appointment via www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccinaation or by calling the national booking centre on the free number 119.

Patients who refused the vaccination when initially offered but who may have since changed their mind are also encouraged to book an appointment.