MORE than one hundred volunteers were praised as “vaccination heroes” at a socially distanced event in Ross as Herefordshire passed another major vaccination milestone.

The latest NHS data shows that more than half of people in the county received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine by May 30.

Community volunteers who have given up their time to help out at the Larruperz Centre vaccination hub in Ross were thanked for their contributions at a recent event coordinated by Ross Community Development Trust, with each volunteer being presented with a commemorative badge and postcard.

The badges and postcards were specially designed by 15-year-old Bethan Pearson, a pupil from Whitecross School in Hereford.

Sharon Waldis, Primary Care Network Development Manager for Taurus Healthcare, presented the mementoes, which she described as a “small token” of thanks for the volunteers for their efforts throughout the vaccination programme.

Sharon said: “It was very humbling to witness how many volunteers had given up their time to help out at the vaccination centre. We couldn’t have achieved what we have with this, the largest vaccination programme in living memory, without them.

“The badges and postcards are just a small token of our thanks, but the volunteers seemed truly thankful to be recognised in this way.”

According to the latest figures, the number of people to have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine in Herefordshire is 88,178, which equates to 55 per cent of those aged 16 and above.

That figure includes 63 per cent of people aged 30 and over, meaning 3,975 people aged between 16 and 29 have also received two jabs.

In England, more than half of people aged 16 and over have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Vaccinations have been administered at Larruperz since December 2020, and on an average day, around 300-400 injections are given by skilled healthcare staff from the six local surgeries that make up the South and West Primary Care Network, including Alton Street and Pendeen Surgeries in Ross-on-Wye.

Taurus Healthcare says that the contribution of the “Vaccination Heroes” cannot be overstated.

Volunteers at Larraperz have been responsible for car park marshalling, welcoming patients, sanitising chairs and clipboards and acting as runners for the healthcare team since the vaccination programme began.

Taurus says that without them, the Hub would “simply not be able to function as smoothly and efficiently as is often commented upon”.

The first patients to visit the Hub were among there oldest cohort, as well as many health and social care staff, about which Sharon commented: “A handful of the first patients were over 100 years old and they were so pleased to receive their jabs.

"Many saw it as the first step towards being able to reconnect with family, friends and loved ones.

“I live in Ross-on-Wye and I’ve seen from local Facebook group pages the positive comments people have made about the Larruperz Vaccination Hub.

"Mostly, people express their gratitude at being able to receive their vaccination. Then there are lots of positive comments about the brilliant atmosphere at the hub and how well organised it all is.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to Brian Marshall (Chair of the Larruperz Centre) and all his team members for making us feel so welcome and for accommodating our needs.”