Allum Hall Covid vaccination centre jabs 20,000 patients

For the last two months, Allum Hall in Borehamwood has been one of several Hertfordshire hosts helping make our communities safe by providing a place for the coronavirus vaccine to be administered.

Thousands have passed through the doors of the hall and thanks to an expert team of clinicians, healthcare staff, and volunteers, the vaccination roll-out locally has gone off without a hitch.

'Being 20,000 felt special'

Saturday was a huge day for the team at Allum Hall after welcoming their 20,000th patient.

Dr Alex Byrne, who is leading the vaccination programme at Allum Hall, allowed the Times to be there for the special moment, which came at around midday.

The patient with the honour of being number 20,000 was Laura Ellis, who could not fault her experience at Allum Hall.

Laura Ellis receives the Covid vaccine from Dr Mike Ingram. Credit: Dr Alex Byrne

The 38-year-old, who had received an invitation from the NHS for a jab, said: "It was so organised, really quick, and it feels really inspirational. I didn’t even feel the jab.

"It was a quick, friendly process that will help protect everyone in the community. I want to come back and volunteer.

"It is extremely exciting to be the 20,000th patient, that is a phenomenal number. It feels special."

Ms Ellis’ jab was administered by retired partner GP Dr Michael Ingram, a familiar face in Hertsmere, who has described the vaccination programme as a "miracle on our doorstep", hailing both the scientists behind the life-saving treatment, and the team at Allum Hall.

Laura Ellis with Dr Byrne and Dr Ingram after receiving her first dose of the coronavirus vaccine

So what you should expect on your visit to Allum Hall?

The army of staff and volunteers at Allum Hall are already looking forward to the next cohort of 20,000 patients.

Many residents in Borehamwood and Elstree will likely be invited to the hall for their jab, so here’s a taster of what to expect.

You’re guaranteed to be met by a friendly steward in the car park at Allum Hall, helping you to find a spot – although the public are being encouraged to walk if possible to their appointment.

There’s another friendly face ready to greet you near the entrance before your booking details are taken and you potentially join a short queue.

A sign outside the vaccination centre at Allum Hall. Credit: Bob Redman

At the front door, your temperature is taken and hands are sanitised, and then once inside, another team of volunteers give you a name label.

Then you are taken inside the hall which has a number of stations manned by healthcare staff and observers.

This is where the vaccination takes place, and after a couple of important questions are asked to check it is okay to have the vaccine, the jab takes place and is over within seconds.

On some days, it is the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine while on others it is the Pfizer.

The vaccination centre at Allum Hall

This bed has also been set up in case anyone does fall ill for any reason or react differently to the vaccine

There is an observation area and room at the back for anyone who has driven and had the Pfizer vaccine to sit and wait for 15 minutes, otherwise the process is over.

Dr Byrne estimated the Oxford vaccination experience can be in less than five minutes, showing how effective the process is at Allum Hall.

‘It’s so uplifting’

Dozens of Communities 1st volunteers at Allum Hall help make the programme run smoothly. From the stewards in the car park to the friendly reassuring face, or providing a bit of guidance, or observing on the floor, they all play a vital role.

Liz Whiteman Smith was manning the front desk with colleagues when we spoke to her on Saturday.

She said: "We just all want to help and it’s a privilege to assist and such a lovely atmosphere here."

Bernice Benson added: "It is especially rewarding to see patients who come in who haven’t been out in nine months. It makes you feel emotional."

Joanne Yaniv needed only a week to get a grip of the special community feeling at Allum Hall, and said she felt "privileged" to be involved.

A group of volunteers at the entrance ready to greet patients

Volunteer Joanne Yaniv

While every single person at Allum Hall plays their part to make sure the process runs smoothly, it is hugely in part down to Dr Byrne, a GP at Schopwick Surgery.

She is the lead clinician whose role varies, but under the guidance of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, has overseen the project.

It’s not always been easy with the team having to cope with challenging weather conditions, like when it snowed, and ensured they met the varying needs of patients who pass through.

The vaccinations have kept on going even when the conditions became challenging. Credit: Bob Redman

Dr Byrne fondly recalled the early days of the vaccination programme when she saw the hope in the eyes of some of the town’s most vulnerable patients who had locked themselves away for months on end.

Dr Byrne said: “It has been a wonderful experience to see our community come together. The staff and volunteers have helped make this as effective and uplifting as possible. I feel lucky to have been involved.

"I must stress that people need to keep social distancing after their first jab, washing their hands. And the second jab is as important than the first."

Dr Byrne was blown away by these drawings and thank you messages from Summerswood Primary School that are hanging up on a wall at Allum Hall

Allum Hall, which runs around two clinics a week, capable of jabbing up to 2,000 people a day, is on course to be offering second doses by the end of the month.

There must also be a mention to the team at Allum Manor House & Hall who welcomed the vaccination programme to Allum Hall with open arms.

Manager Tony Battison said: "This is a community centre designed to serve the community and there is no better way than this programme. This is what that centre was created for. I’m so proud my team have been able to support the process."

Trustee Bob Redman added: "It was a challenge I took on behalf of the trustees and we are delighted to have been able to host. We look forward to that continuing."