St John Ambulance volunteers will continue supporting the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme till at least the end of 2021.
A 30,000-strong team has given more than 640,000 hours of their time, administering injections, and caring for people before and after they receive their vaccinations, across more than 400 locations, since January 11.
And St John will be part of the ongoing roll-out, as more people get their first and second jabs, booster shots are introduced, and the charity joins in with the winter flu vaccination programme as well.
“When St John started vaccinating the nation way back in January, we initially thought our involvement would end by July,” said St John Ambulance’s Chief Operating Officer, Richard Lee.
“But our people’s commitment and hard work – and frankly, outright success – means St John volunteers will now continue delivering vaccinations on behalf of the NHS for at least the remainder of 2021.
“Thanks to their incredible achievements, this critical work has become the biggest part of our charity’s response to the pandemic, and it will remain so for the foreseeable future.”
St John Ambulance recently passed a million hours of care given on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, with volunteers in hospitals, on ambulances and delivering community projects, such as work supporting the night-time economy in town and city centres, as well as giving vaccinations.