Local community comes together to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme

Parklands Community Primary School in Ellesmere Port, local volunteers and shops have all come together to support the NHS and Cheshire West and Chester Council in the roll-out of the borough’s vaccination programme.

The team working on the project at Civic Hall vaccination site in Ellesmere Port had short timescales to co-ordinate the roll-out of the vaccination programme and recruit volunteers to support the smooth running of the site. Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) has been providing ongoing support for the pre-planning of Primary Care Network (PCN) vaccination sites across the borough, including site surveys, traffic management, directional signs and accessibility. Parklands Community Primary School also provided artwork, designed by school pupils to brighten up the site.

Director of Public Health at Cheshire West and Chester Council, Ian Ashworth said “This is partnership working at its best, with the Council, health partners, a local school, community groups and residents all coming together to play their part and help turn this around.

“The community spirit has been remarkable in the fight against COVID-19.  Everyone involved has had a positive impact on the roll-out of such a vital vaccination programme to help get society back to some form of normality. Please take up the offer of the COVID-19 vaccination, when it’s your turn.”

Headteacher at Parklands Community Primary School, Kim Cairns adds “Our pupils attending school completed artwork based around our six school values:- Independence, cooperation, respect, responsibility, resilience and ambition. We wanted to create something positive during this difficult time to show that we're a community and how we work together. It was great fun creating the artwork for our community.

“Each bubble created a piece to brighten up the vaccination centre at Civic Way and give the patients something interesting to look at as they wait.”

Charlotte Fisher, Primary Care Network and Care Community Development Manager said “The project has been a huge team effort and we feel a huge amount of gratitude for all the support from the local community.

“The whole community has come together to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme, with a growing number of volunteers showing their support.  Local shops have also provided food and drink and the artwork now located at the site looks fantastic, thanks to Parklands Community Primary School.”

Continue to keep washing hands, cover faces and social distance when in an enclosed space, even after having the vaccination. More information about the local COVID-19 vaccination programme and how to book, if you are in one of the eligible groups, is available on the Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) website. Visit the Cheshire CCG website