Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, recently paid a visit to the new NHS major vaccination hub at the Mill Hall in Rayleigh Town Centre, to see the vital operation in action and to thank NHS staff and volunteers for all their efforts, in helping to protect his constituents against Covid-19.

Mark was accompanied on the visit by Councillor Simon Wootton, the Leader of Rochford District Council, who own the building and have made it readily available to the Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT) the element of the NHS who are overseeing the operation of major local vaccination hubs in Essex, including sister facilities at EPUT Headquarters at Runwell and the Cliffs Pavillion, in Southend.

As of this weekend, over 21 million adults in the UK have been given at least one dose of the critical vaccines and the roll out is continuing at pace. Locally, NHS bosses are now calling those who are aged 60 or over forward to receive vaccinations and it is hoped that all adults over 50 will have been vaccinated at least once by 15th April, which would be a massive achievement. 

Speaking about his visit, Mark Francois, whose partner also works in the NHS, in London, said:

“I was incredibly impressed by what I saw at the Mill Hall, not least the successful co-operation between NHS professionals and enthusiastic local volunteers, to help vaccinate as many as possible of my constituents, as quickly and efficiently as could be. All of these people have been doing a wonderful job and we all owe them our gratitude for their efforts.”