Healthcare workers and volunteers are scrambling to administer Covid-19 booster jabs after the prime minister warned that the UK is facing an Omicron “tidal wave”.
“I’m afraid we’re now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant,” Boris Johnson said in a televised address on Sunday. But “our scientists are confident that with a third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back up”.
Under the government’s expanded rollout plan, "everyone eligible aged 18 and over in England will have the chance to get their booster before the New Year", he said. But the director of the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme, Dr Emily Dawson, has warned that the new target “is a huge and complex challenge for an already stretched health service”.
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Dawson praised the work already done by “our incredible NHS staff and volunteers”, but added: “My final plea is to please consider joining the thousands of vaccinators and volunteers who have already signed up to lend a hand – this mission wouldn’t be possible without you.”
Almost 3,000 vaccination centres are currently operating across the UK, staffed by more than 90,000 volunteers.
The NHS last week announced a recruitment drive for 10,000 paid vaccinators. Since then, 4,500 people have registered their interest, while 13,000 have come forward as volunteer stewards.
Here’s how to register your interest in volunteering or taking up a paid position with the NHS.
How to volunteer
St John Ambulance is currently mobilising and re-engaging existing vaccination volunteers. Existing volunteers will be contacted, or you can contact your volunteering lead.
NHS Volunteer Responders is currently recruiting up to 30,000 additional steward volunteer roles. Opportunities also remain open for members of the public through a number of different roles including food or medication deliveries, lifts to medical appointments or "check-in and chat" phone calls.
Local NHS services are also operating their own volunteer schemes. Check their websites for details on roles in your area.
Paid roles
NHS Professionals is recruiting for up to 10,000 paid positions across the nationwide network of Covid-19 vaccine centres. The team is looking to recruit registered healthcare professionals, administrators, non-registered vaccinators and healthcare support workers.
