THE vaccination team carrying out jabs at the home of Oxford United have now injected half a million people.

Members of Oxford United were among those to congratulate Oxford Health NHS Trust’s vaccination team at the Kassam Stadium.

The team includes vaccinators, doctors, pharmacists, administrators, marshals and volunteers. Along with their counterparts in Reading and Aylesbury, they have administered more than 500,000 jabs since the mass vaccination programme was launched in February. To celebrate reaching the milestone, the stadium’s scoreboard was lit up with the ‘500,000’ score.

Tehmeena Ajmal, Oxford Health’s director of Covid operations, said: “To have given half a million vaccinations to people in our centres in Oxford, Reading and Aylesbury in such a short period of time is testament to the hard work of everyone in the mass vaccination team.

“When you go for your vaccination there’s a whole range of people who are responsible for booking you in when you arrive, getting your jab and ensuring you are being looked after from the moment you walk in, to the time you leave. I would like to personally thank each and any every person who has played a part in getting us to this milestone.

“Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself and those around you from Covid-19 and booking an appointment, if you are yet to be vaccinated, is very easy.”

Read more: Unease grows at new housebuilding swamping county

Oxford United Manager Karl Robinson said: “It’s an amazing number and we thank everyone who has made that happen. We have a big game today and I am sure most of the people in the crowd will have had a jab here. We will get a great reception at kick-off but really the applause belongs to the NHS and everyone who has helped get the people of Oxfordshire vaccinated.”

Oxford Mail: Oxford Health NHS Trust celebrate 500,000th vaccine as part of their mass jab rollout at the Kassam. From left, arah Hewetson-Grubb (Senior Clinical Lead), Melody Speake. Steve Blair, and Dannie DykesPicture by Andrew Walmsley

The trust has the capacity to vaccinate over 5,000 people per day and will continue to welcome people to its vaccination centres as the national vaccination programme progresses.

Dannie Dykes, a marshal at the Kassam’s vaccine centre, said: “I love working in the vaccination centre – it’s one of my favourite jobs.

See more: Oxford's New Theatre teases reopening with amazing video

“One thing I can say is how grateful everyone who comes for their vaccination has been. It’s been really heart-warming how nice everyone has been.

“Playing our part in bringing up the half a million jabs is brilliant. It’s a wonderful result and I am proud to be part of it.

Oxford Mail: Oxford Health celebrate their 500,000th vaccine. Pictured are Sarah Hewetson-Grubb, Steve Blair, Melody Speake and Dannie Dykes. Picture by Andrew Walmsley

Steve Blair, a vaccine administrator, said: “I normally work as an IT consultant but I’ve loved working here. The team spirit of all the colleagues with such a range of skills who have come together to work on vaccinating people is amazing.”

Melody Speake, a vaccinator and clinical lead, said: “The vaccination centre is a happy place. It’s so good to come to work and I love the interaction we have with the public and fellow colleagues.”

Vaccines started being administered to the public at the Kassam on February 1 with other mass vaccination sites being opened in the following months by Oxford Health in Reading and Aylesbury.