Grab a Jab !

As the covid vaccination programme in Lincolnshire and across the country enters the final sprint, the NHS is holding a  ‘big weekend' of vaccine-related activity , to encourage people to get vaccinated and help meet the ambition of offering everyone aged 18 or over a vaccination by 19th July.

Lincolnshire will be playing its part in the ‘big weekend' and aims to make vaccines easily and readily available, by offering a number of walk-in services, where appointments won't be required, during the weekend.

Second dose vaccinations (minimum eight week gap between first and second dose).

The first of these will be held at  The Arboretum, Lincoln  (Monks Road entrance), where a  mobile unit will offer Pfizer walk-in vaccinations for first doses , on a ‘first come, first served' basis between  12pm-3pm  on  Saturday 26th June , to anyone aged 18 or over who is eligible.

On  Sunday 27th June ,  Newlands Pharmacy, Lincoln , will be  offering Pfizer  and AstraZeneca walk-in vaccinations  on a ‘first come, first served' basis between 10am-2pm, to anyone 18 or over who is eligible, including both first and second doses.

On  Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th June , the  Storehouse in Skegness  will also be providing  walk-in Pfizer ONLY vaccinations between 8.30am-5pm  using Pfizer for both first and second doses, on a ‘first come, first served' basis.

In addition to this, both of the county's Mass Vaccination Centres (MVC) will offer vaccinations on a walk-in basis as follows:

PRSA Mass Vaccination Centre, Boston  – offering Pfizer and AstraZeneca walk-ins (no individual choice of vaccine, will be administered according to JCVI guidance), first and second doses, 8am-7pm  Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th June.

Lincolnshire Showground Mass Vaccination Centre  – offering  AstraZeneca ONLY  walk-ins, first and second doses for people in cohorts 1-10/aged 40 and over, 8am-7pm  Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th June.

Food Bank

Kate Hiley tells us that the food bank is currently packing up to 70 parcels a month for those in need. Steven Bunney and the MRAG team are working most mornings 10-12 in the Festival Hall.  Food items can be dropped there, at the New Life Church or the Salvation Army in Market Rasen, but not at the Middle Rasen Church, at the moment, thank you.

Kate says they have received some great donations from the community and purchased goods following financial donations. There is always a need for basics like cereals, tea, coffee, tinned food (inc veg, fruit, etc) toothpaste, shower gel, soap and toilet rolls. Call Rhona at the NL Church Office on 01673 849941 if you are looking for donation ideas or ways to contribute.

Long dated items needed at the moment include:

Tinned meat - meatballs, corned beef, chicken supreme, steak etc. ...Tinned fruit, rice puddings, etc. ....Biscuits ... Crisps ....Rice Crispies (or similar) - and/or the breakfast cereals that children enjoy.

No one should feel obliged to give food, particularly if they or their family are in need. As ever, pasta, sauces, tinned soup, dry rice etc are all needed, but at the moment the Food Bank does have a stock of these items.

Covid Research

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has funded research project based at the University of Southampton. We're looking to recruit members of the public to take part in a large international survey on the preventative behaviours people are taking to avoid catching COVID-19 and the long-term effect of those that have suffered from COVID-19 during the pandemic.

The survey is aimed at everyone, including you, and this is the UK specific link to the survey: https://pharma.unige.ch/limesurvey/index.php/326544?lang=en

BUS SERVICES

During these challenging days, changes to bus services can happen at a very rapid speed. Operators need only give two day notices of an intention to change/suspend/ reinstate services.

We are trying hard to keep up to speed with these changes and keep communities informed via our social media channels and our Lincsbus Website

Maria Lyon TSG Publicity Team

..... or call the Lincolnshire Transport Helpline on 0345 456 4474 (Monday – Saturday)  for help with information and availability of bus services and timetables.

Vaccinations

I have had the pleasure of volunteering at Lincolnshire Showground in the vaccination programme arranged by a number of our local GP practices. It is such a rewarding experience, freeing up the medical staff to concentrate on organising and giving the vaccinations. So far all the persons attending have been in the older age groups or vulnerable and for many of them it has been their first trip outside of their home for many months! It has been a privilege to be part of the project, and clearly many people attending are so relieved and pleased to receive their first “jab” and so grateful to their GP practices for being so quick off the mark and efficient. 

The volunteers all work 5-hour shifts and the outside jobs particularly, in the horrible weather we are having around the beginning of February, can be extremely cold and tiring. The thanks we all receive from those who have been immunised more than make up for it and I know everyone working there volunteers and medical staff has been touched by the gifts of sweets and homemade cakes 

We have been joined at the Showground now by the NHS mass vaccination programme and literally thousands of people are now being vaccinated each week. By the time Community Spirit comes out we will have made fantastic progress locally and hopefully nationally in getting a large percentage of the population vaccinated at least once

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If YOU have need of prayer and would like to email or call, I am privileged to oblige. If anyone would just like a listening ear, you are welcome to telephone me and I'll be happy to chat. Contact Rev Heather Wilson by email on wilsonhthr56@aol.com or telephone on 01673 843362