The team has been helping to organise and steward the Covid vaccination programme at the Alfred Barrow Medical Centre since December 2020. The final clinic was held in June.
The effort by the Barrow Rotarians is typical of the efforts of Rotarians across Great Britain and Ireland who have been at the forefront of volunteering at Covid clinics since vaccinations began in 2020.
Peter Garwood was the Rotary coordinator for the Barrow project who drew up the rotas for each vaccination session and, over the whole programme, he has produced over 364 rotas.
He also developed, in conjunction with NHS staff, the way in which patients would be dealt with as they arrived at the Centre.
The team of Barrow Rotarians that have been helping to organise and steward the Covid vaccination programme at the Alfred Barrow Medical Centre.
The volunteers were fantastic turning up in all weathers and doing a role that suited them such as sanitising seats, handing out masks, manning the car park, directing people to the right place or sanitising hands.
It is 18 months since the clinics started and, in that time, there have been 160 clinics and 98,250 jabs carried out. There has been a total of 12,900 volunteer hours including 1,200 by Peter.
Peter said: “I have really enjoyed organising the rotas and the volunteers and I appreciate the awards that I had from BBC Look North and a Community award from ‘Love Barrow’ for my work but they were really meant for the whole team.”
Some £600 was also collected for Children in Need and the Ukraine Appeal.
The Rotary Club of Furness has contact with a Rotary club in Warsaw, Poland who are coordinating the supply of medical items to Ukraine, and the money collected has been sent to them.
The Rotary clubs were supported by local businesses and the community who have provided food for the volunteers.
