About 60 volunteers who gave up their time to help administer over 10,000 covid jabs in Pateley Bridge have been treated to a thank-you meal.
Samina Khan, owner of Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, and Dr Lewis Caplin, a GP who played a key role in the Nidderdale town’s vaccination programme, organised the event.
The pharmacy wound down its programme in December but is now set to provide more clinics following the announcement that people aged 75 and over, care home residents and those with weakened immune systems can book spring boosters.
Pateley Bridge Pharmacy was awarded an NHS England contract to give jabs at its third time of applying.
Some opposed the move, saying local people could attend the GP-run vaccine centres in Harrogate and Ripon. But not everyone was able to get to those locations easily.
Ms Khan said:
“A lot of our patients were relying on transport to get to the other places and it was costing them £60 for round trips, which is a lot of money.”
The pharmacy began giving jabs in April and administered 350 a day at its peak.
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Ms Khan said if Dr Caplin, a retired GP in Pateley Bridge, hadn’t agreed to oversee the vaccinations “I don’t think I would have been able to pursue it”.
The volunteers, who included vaccinators, marshals and administrative staff, enjoyed a free Indian meal at Cardamon Black restaurant in Harrogate on Sunday.
Ms Khan, who has also given volunteers gift vouchers, said:
“It was just to say thank you to them because they have given up their time to help protect the local community.”
The pharmacy plans to start providing jabs again in April.
All photos by Natasha Audsley
