‘This can change everything’: Hope and high spirits as Covid vaccine sites open their doors across England

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Under observation for any side-effects – but feeling “absolutely fine” – she’s one of roughly 350 people to have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine here at The Hive Stadium in north London – home to Barnet FC and, for now, one of the capital’s first GP-led vaccination clinics. If no one had gotten a vaccine with all the previous diseases we’ve faced, we’d be in the dark ages still.” She’s also full of praise for the efficiency of the vaccination site, its staff – who have been drafted in from nearby GPs – and the seamlessness of the whole operation, led by Dr Meena Thakur, clinical director for Harrow East Primary Care Network. There’s also lot of training to be done behind the scenes, particularly on the Covid vaccine and also the infection control and life support training we’ve had to do.” Dr Thakur says that local GP practices have had to release some of their nurses to help out at the site, while some of her colleagues have taken on extra shifts to ensure the centre is fully staffed. “For this programme, we’re waiting for the AstraZeneca vaccine to come in so we can go to our most vulnerable patients, our care home and housebound patients, who we’re not currently able to vaccinate,” says Dr Thakur.