'Golden' response to Covid vaccination efforts as wheelchairs donated
A donation of wheelchairs to help a Shropshire vaccination centre has summed up the community's response to the programme, which one volunteer described as "golden".
People and companies in Newport have given food, wine, wheelchairs and more to the new vaccination centre at Audley Court, where thousands of vulnerable people have been given their jabs.
The town's branch of Ableworld has loaned several wheelchairs to the centre for patients waiting for their vaccinations.
Borough and town councillor Tim Nelson, who volunteers at the centre, said the hundreds of members of the community who have embraced the new centre (in a socially distanced sense) deserve credit.
Mr Nelson has been acting as a marshal at the vaccination hub, helping to organise parking, queues and people who have had their vaccinations.
"I know it's been very well-received," he said about the many donations, which he said were "extremely generous".
He said that the volunteers have gratefully received the many gifts given and that it has been "a pleasure" to work alongside health professionals in the vaccine roll-out effort.
"I would say to the people of Newport there are three players in the vaccination program: one is the health professionals... one is the volunteers... the third group is the public.
"They have turned up in their millions, ready to be involved: 'can you park over there, can you wear your mask please, you might have to wait for a bit'.
"People have been absolutely golden."
He said that the efforts of the very first elderly people to turn up for their vaccinations without a fuss brought tears to his eyes.
