It is impossible to recount all the ups and downs – building new sites, building a new workforce, designing outreach, coping with protestors, and dealing with short notice change of plans, this has been a workstream like no other.

As we close our part in this particular story I want to thank everyone who has been involved.

This was the collective effort of a generation. One we are extraordinarily proud to have been a part of. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. ~ Dr Helen Curr, Chief Executive

Brighton’s 2023 population is now estimated at 622,480 and to date we have delivered around 342,000 vaccinations. 

Our roving services vaccinated over 73,000 patients, protecting those that are most vulnerable – administering in their homes, care homes, homeless settings and community hubs for minorities. 1,041 Mobile Vaccination Unit deployments have gone ahead meaning those that cannot access the vaccine for themselves the opportunity for our team to come to them.

This is an incredible achievement for a service that was set up with a very short lead time and has operated out of a wide variety of venues – a church hall, a gym, a GP surgery waiting area, council offices, community centres, vehicles and supermarket carparks.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work, commitment tenacity of every person involved.

Covid-19 changed our world forever and it also changed us as an organisation forever too. It changed our relationship with this city, it got us to really look at how we do things and who we do it for.

Thank you – thank you for your energy, your tenacity. I don’t think there was one person who didn’t get involved in Vax at some point. It was a real Here effort! It’s been a challenge – but it’s been fun. This year we had 11 days to put together this year’s campaign. We did it. Everybody in the team – you are incredible you really are. ~ Helen Mendoza, Service Lead – Covid 19 Vaccination Program

What really struck me about the vaccine service was how important each person was to the overall success. Each person had an incalculable role and the value of the multidisciplinary team was really evident and something to really take forward. When I went to visit I was so impressed by how amazing the volunteers were. The energy, the positivity, the hard work. Thank you to everyone who contributed so much to the success of the programme. Proud to have been a part of it. ~ Simon Hincks, Former Clinical Director of Primary Care

I wish I could have formally said goodbye after the vaccine clinic, I wanted to say I really appreciate being taken in for the role. It inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare so thank you so much for having faith in me to work as site support. I have since gone to Glasgow to complete a master’s in medical physics and am seeking to start a career in radiotherapy for which I have a job interview very soon. Working with you and the site support team during the pandemic helped me to grow so much. Thanks again for everything ~ Max Chaitow, Vax Team

Throughout what was the most ‘unprecedented of times’ also came the most unprecedented feat of dedication, collaboration and passion. Thank you to each and every person who has been involved in programme. 

Read Sarah Bartholomew, our deputy CEO’s reflections on Here’s achievement in ensuring the citizens of Brighton are vaccinated against Covid19 back in January 2021: The Covid Vaccination Site at the Brighton Racecourse Opens its Doors – Here (hereweare.org.uk)