A second vaccination day was recently held by the Western Health and Social Care Trust for service users known to the Trust’s Adults with a Learning Disability (ALD) services, to help protect them from Covid-19.

The first vaccination day was held on February 19, with the second on April 13 at the Western Trust’s mass vaccination centre at the Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen.

Jabs were administered by the Trust’s vaccination team who were kindly assisted on the day by staff from ALD Services. Over 100 service users who avail of Western Trust Day Care or Day Opportunities attended across both sessions.

Glenda Frazer, Community Nursing Adults Learning Disability Nurse Manager, who was delighted with the success of the vaccination days, said: “This was a fabulous opportunity for people with a Learning Disability to gain access to the local vaccination centre and to be able take up their Covid-19 Vaccinations.

“This was made possible by the collaborative work of the Vaccination Team, the Multi-disciplinary Learning Disability Team and most importantly those who attended with a Learning Disability and their families/carers.”

“I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved. The vaccination teams were extremely helpful throughout the process and made these sessions possible through their assistance and by making small, reasonable adjustments to allow us to have a positive outcome.”

Commenting of the success of the vaccination days, a number of family members and carers of service users, wanted to express how happy and relieved they were to have been able to ensure their loved ones received their doses.

These included comments by Mary and Malachy Corrigan, who said: “The Vaccine Clinic went exceptionally well, it was well planned and everyone was extremely helpful and friendly, a job well done!”

Ruth Coulter echoing this experience, said: “I am so grateful to the staff for supporting my son to get his vaccine.”

Finola Maguire also singled out the support of staff at the vaccination centre: “It was great that the staff were there to reassure my daughter when she was getting the vaccine. The staff being there to support my daughter made a big difference.”

Pauline Lennon, Day Opportunities Manager for Adults with a Learning Disability at the Western Trust, said: “We have received numerous compliments from service users and their families/carers about the vaccination day held in the Lakeland forum and what it meant to them.

"Also, all of us [staff] in the of the Learning Disability programme, who assisted the Trust’s Vaccination team on the day, felt very privileged to have the opportunity to work with such unique group of people.”

“The courage and trust shown to us as staff on the day by the service users and their families/carers was incredible. We would also like to thank Professor Ronan O’Hare, Assistant Medical Director at South West Acute Hospital, whose attendance, patience and understanding with our service users contributed to the success of the days.”