'Phenomenal' response from volunteers to help with roll out of covid vaccine in Nottinghamshire

In a Covid 19 briefing health chiefs said there was an overall ‘improving picture,’ a shared a ‘sense of optimism’ going into 2021 but warned ‘we are not out of the woods yet.’

The first cohort targeted would be the over 80s, and the county would be ready by next week to start the vaccine programme, dependent on delivery of the vaccine, the briefing heard.

Jonathan Gribbin, Nottinghamshire Director of Public Health, said the county had seen an ‘improving picture’ but it was ‘not without variation.’

Rates across Nottinghamshire were in general ‘falling’ but there was ‘no guarantee’ they would continue to fall.

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“We need to see an overall trajectory downwards, which requires continued application of restrictions,” he said.

"We are not without bumps in the road, we have seen rises in rates in the over 60s in Newark, Sherwood and Broxtowe.”

Dr Andy Haynes, the county’s Integrated Care System Management Director, reported 375 hospital beds across the region were occupied with Covid positive cases, a drop from 316 the week before.

"They are poorly and about half need oxygen support. It’s the first time in the last four weeks we have gone below 400, still more than April’s peak,” he said.

There were 56 deaths in the last seven days.

He added: “It is the Tier 3 and restrictions that have got us to this position, but we are not out of the woods yet. People must still observe the hands, face space rules and try and reduce mixing indoors.

“The public’s response to the vaccine programme is phenomenal, we have had 1,200 applications and now have 250 people trained and ready but we’ll need more.”

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He called on retired doctors,dentists, nurses, health care workers, physiotherapist, health care workers and non NHS staff such as cabin crew and St John Ambulance personnel to volunteer.

He said: “The vaccine is a major logistical effort, we’ll be carrying them out at hospitals, surgeries and places with good transport links.”

David Johns, Consultant in Public Health at Nottingham City Council also said it was an opportunity for ‘great optimism but tempered it with “but we are still on the journey, yet.”