Make-shift hub launched in December vaccinates 22,000 people

The vaccines have been administered at Portway Lifestyle Centre, in Oldbury, over the past three months.

The hub will continue running for several months. It is being overseen by Sonia Simkins, from Hawes Lane Surgery, in Rowley Regis, who is the hub's manager.

She said: "I can’t praise everyone here enough.

"This team is made up of healthcare professionals and volunteers who wouldn’t normally be involved in a programme such as this, working 12-hour days, seven-days-a-week in order to ensure that everyone who needs a vaccine is able to get one as quickly as possible, while also ensuring their usual healthcare responsibilities are being met as well.

"This has been a community effort and honestly there have been times where it has been quite emotional to be involved in, whether that’s been someone telling us how much this will help them or passing certain milestones of numbers of people helped, we all feel incredibly proud of what we’re doing as part of the national effort.

"Together, we will overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and being able to be a part of that has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career."

Lorraine Crampton, a health exchange link worker, who is volunteering in the vaccination programme, said: "You just have to do your bit don’t you?

"It’s been inspiring to be a part of this effort and whether that’s the healthcare professionals administering the injections or the volunteers ensuring that the huge logistical implications of this roll-out run smoothly, all of us have our part to play.

"Seeing the community come together and slowly begin to recover is an experience that will live with me for the rest of my career."