A TEEMORE native greeted Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he arrived at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum last Friday.

Garrett Martin works as the Vaccination Centre Co-ordinator for the Western Trust, and oversees the running of vaccination centres in Enniskillen, Omagh and Londonderry.

Of the visit, Garret confirmed that the staff were pleased to be visited by the Prime Minister. He said: “To have the work that they've been doing acknowledged at such a high level, it was something that was unexpected in many ways.

"To have the Prime Minister, the First Minister, and the Minister for Health to all come on the one day was particularly pleasing.

"A lot of the staff had an opportunity to say a few words to the Prime Minister, and he was very amiable and did appear genuinely pleased and impressed by the wonderful work that the staff are doing.”

Garret had to keep mum for a few days beforehand when he received word of the high-profile visitors planning to come to town.

He added: “ I was asked would I accompany [Mr. Johnson] on a tour of the [Forum] centre and introduce him to the local staff and other people working in the centre.”

Speaking of the Prime Minister and his interactions with staff members, Garrett said: “He spoke to a lot of people who were in for their vaccine and witnessed a few vaccinations being carried out.

"He spoke very pleasantly to the folk getting their vaccine jabs, and to the vaccination support staff, pharmacy staff and administration staff.”

Speaking on the general vaccination programme and ongoing efforts in Enniskillen, Garrett said: “As of Monday, Enniskillen has delivered 13,174 doses of the vaccine.

“The feedback that we have gotten from the most important people – the people receiving the vaccine – has been predominantly positive, for having a good experience in the centres, and getting early access to the vaccine.

“It is quite an emotional place to work, as people are pleased to get it [the vaccine jab], and they are relieved to get it.

"It’s a positive place to work because it is a light at the end of the tunnel for people.

"We’ve had a lot of people who have cried and are very emotional when they get the vaccine, so that is a very big motivating factor for people when they are working in the centre,” he added.