Fire Service staff volunteer to become vaccinators
More than 10 colleagues from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have trained as vaccinators and are administering COVID-19 injections.
Responding to the national appeal for volunteers, staff at the fire service have undergone 50 hours of training to become fully qualified vaccinators and are now working at vaccination centres across Essex.
Staff from the fire service have also been volunteering at vaccination centres since the beginning of the vaccine rollout in Essex and have helped set up the centres and helped run them ever since.
Greg Herne, Fire Safety Officer and firefighter of 32 years with the London Fire Brigade, has given 105 vaccinations over two shifts so far, at Colchester’s Community Stadium and Chelmsford City Racecourse.
He said: “I’ve loved it. I’ve felt that I’m giving something back to the community. When people ask me what my day job is and I tell them I work for the fire service, they are incredibly grateful. They appreciate everything our Service is doing to keep them safe and they can see colleagues going the extra mile and volunteering too.
“It is a similar feeling to when I was a firefighter; I leave feeling like I’ve made a difference. I’m really looking forward to doing my next shift.”
Andrea Adams, Education Officer, administered 70 vaccinations on her first six-hour shift at Colchester’s Community Stadium.
She said: “It was scary to start with but the staff were so supportive. I got the first couple done and got in the swing of things and the patients were so happy, although I’m not sure how their arms felt in the morning!
“We’ve gone from practising on oranges to using real arms and there’s a bit of a difference! There’s a lot to remember but it’s fine when you get the hang of it. I’m looking forward to my next shift.”
This week, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating Volunteers Week. If you would like to register your interest to volunteer with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service visit: www.essex-fire.gov.uk/Volunteering/
Page last updated 3 June, 2021