YORK’S Covid vaccination centre is set to celebrate its first birthday next week - and a healthcare provider has reflected on the “admirable” work of volunteers and staff.

A year ago, Nimbuscare, a collaboration of York GP practices, transformed a disused car park on land owned by City of York Council into the city’s main Covid vaccination site.

The land, adjacent to the Askham Bar Park&Ride site, was acquired last October, when the Nimbuscare team first began offering the NHS winter flu vaccinations.

By December, the focus had switched to delivering the local Covid-19 vaccination service from the site within the large white marquee, which soon became known as the ‘Tent of Hope’.

Reflecting on the last year, Madeline Ruff, chief executive officer at Nimbuscare, said: “The York Vaccination Centre has played a hugely important role during the last year and we’re very grateful to our member GP practices, City of York Council and our many other partners for supporting us in our response to the pandemic.”

York Press: Madeline Ruff, chief executive officer for Nimbuscare

Since opening, the Nimbuscare team have delivered more than 370,000 vaccinations, equating to around one in every 250 vaccinations delivered nationally.

The team at the site will mark its first birthday by decorating the ‘Tent of Hope’ and exhibiting photographs taken throughout the last year and the pandemic.

It will also be staging its first ever ‘Careers Fair’ on Saturday October 9, which is open to anyone with an interest in a career in healthcare.

Although a walk-in Covid vaccination service is still offered at the centre seven days a week, the 2021 winter flu vaccination programme will soon get underway there. A host of new services are also being introduced - including preventative health checks designed to spot early signs of various conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.