End of the road for Suffolk's Covid vaccine programme

Since the programme started in December 2020 more than 3.1million vaccines have been given by the NHS in Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Pop up clinics can offer the vaccine to those eligible until the end of this month - full details can be found at https://sneevaccine.org.uk/

After this month vaccines can be offered to those who need them for specific conditions through doctors or hospitals.

And in future Covid jabs are expected to be offered alongside flu injections to groups that are eligible for them during the autumn and winter campaigns.

Elizabeth Moloney from SNEE NHS. (Image: SNEE NHS)

Elizabeth Moloney, who has successfully led the Covid vaccination programme for the ICB, says: “This is a bittersweet time for us all, because on the one hand we know that having administered over three million vaccines we’ve saved countless  lives and prevented serious illness across our communities.

“Yet, at the same time, we reflect on the tragedy and sadness that this virus has caused, and the havoc it has reaped on people’s lives and to their livelihoods.

“It is important though that we remain positive about our achievements and give thanks to everyone who has had a role in making this vaccination programme such a success.”

The first vaccines were rolled out in December 2020 to a great fanfare and were seen as the first real fight-back against the Covid pandemic that had brought much normal life in the country to a halt.

Over the first months of 2021 everyone in the country was offered a jab, and from then on there were regular top-ups, especially for those considered particularly vulnerable.

Some people considered to be in particularly vulnerable groups have had several jabs.

These have not stopped Covid altogether - but they have helped ensure that people do not get as sick from it as they did at the start. The number of hospital admissions and deaths from the disease has fallen significantly.