Volunteers needed for second jab push

Darlington Support is recruiting new volunteers for the next phase of the vaccine rollout programme

With COVID jabs being offered to 16 and 17-year olds, and the imminent rollout of the Covid booster programme, a local Coronavirus charity has launched its second vaccine volunteer initiative.

Darlington Support, which was set up at the start of the pandemic, has worked with Cockerton Pharmacy since the start of this year to ensure that thousands of local residents received their vaccines in both Cockerton and Firthmoor jab centres.

Sunil Kumar, Darlington Community Pharmacy Primary Care Network (PCN) lead, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Darlington Support and all the volunteers who have been helping with the vaccination programme over the past six months. Without their commitment and hard work, we would not have been able to ensure that so many thousands of people in Darlington have been vaccinated against Covid."

Darlington Support Founder and CEO, George Jabbour, added: "We are extremely proud that hundreds of individuals signed up to our first vaccine volunteer initiative earlier this year, which contributed to the amazing success of the jab programme in Darlington. However, the pandemic is not over yet. We are expecting an increase in the demand for vaccines over the coming winter months."

Darlington Support Trustee, Cllr Pauline Culley, commented: "We recognise that many volunteers have already given so much, not only since the start of the vaccination programme, but also from the day the pandemic struck 18 months ago. Our community owes a massive debt of gratitude to each one of these kind-hearted and dedicated volunteers. We now have new opportunities at the vaccination sites in Cockerton and in Firthmoor so if anyone would like to join the team and make a difference, please complete this form: https://darlingtonsupport.uk/vaccine so we can welcome you to the team."

Picture caption: Darlington Support volunteers helping with the vaccine rollout