NHS staff and volunteers at the City Hall vaccination site are celebrating reaching yet another milestone.

Today, (March 15), the team delivered their 20,000th vaccine dose.

This means 10,000 doses were given in the past three weeks.

The NHS says this is "a significant achievement in the fight to protect the local community against Covid". 

Gail Pitty, who received her jab today, was one of the people that helped the team pass the 20,000 mark.

When asked what the vaccination meant to her, she said: "It will mean that I will soon be able to see my family in the North who I haven't seen since November 2019.

"To be able to come together again will be a very special occasion."

Salisbury Journal: Gail Pitty getting her jab. Picture by Alice SmithGail Pitty getting her jab. Picture by Alice Smith

Today, the large-scale site also doubled its capacity by opening additional vaccination stations.

So far, staff have been using one pod which allowed them to vaccinate around 450 people a day.

With the opening of the second pod, that figure will double.

Reflecting on both achievements, Fiona Hyett, Operations Director at the City Hall said: "I’m incredibly proud of the enormous team effort that has gone into ensuring the safe and effective running of this centre.

"Staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to run the centre seven days a week so that our local community are offered the vaccination as quickly as possible.

"We’ve learnt a great deal and we're absolutely delighted that we’re now able to increase our capacity so that we can vaccinate more people, more quickly. 

Salisbury Journal: Picture by Alice SmithPicture by Alice Smith

"We understand people's desire to be vaccinated and everyone is working as fast as they can. 

"Please can people remain patient and book an appointment when contacted by their GP or the NHS national booking service. We will get to everyone as soon as possible."

At the end of last week, the Sarum South Primary Care Network which consists of Salisbury Medical Practice, Three Chequers Medical Practice, Harcourt Surgery, Whiteparish Surgery and Downton Surgery also revealed they had vaccinated more than 20,000 patients.

This includes patients who have attended Salisbury Cathedral clinics as well as housebound patients and staff and residents in care homes.

NHS staff are currently vaccinating people aged 55 and over.

Those who are not yet eligible are being asked to wait for their turn.

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