To
help protect all UK citizens during this difficult time, the Freemasons have
also offered their lodges to administer the vital jabs and many buildings are
being used as Covid-19 vaccination centres.
In Hertfordshire, for
example, Halsey Hall is being used as a vaccination centre and supporting three
local GP surgeries. The centre has been operational since 15 January and once
fully scaled, there will be up to 1,000 vaccinations given each day at the
centre.
NHS frontline staff
members are also administering the jabs at the Freemasons building in Essex.
Meanwhile, Freemasons in south Wales are opening the doors of Barry Masonic
Hall to local medical practices to help in the mass vaccination against Covid-19,
from 21 January.
Two halls are also
being used as vaccination centres in west Kent. At the Westwood Masonic Centre
in Welling, more than 2,000 people were vaccinated on 9-10 January 2021, while
the Tunbridge Wells Masonic Centre opened its doors for vaccinations on 14
January.
In addition, the
United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the governing body for Freemasonry in
England and Wales, is encouraging Freemasons to donate their time and efforts
to help fight the virus. It also emphasised that those volunteering should not
participate if they are in an at-risk group.
Freemason Alec Hurley
is a retired RAF senior medical officer and a self-employed medical examiner
for the Civil Aviation Authority. During these difficult times, he is back on
duty working 12-hour shifts three times a week for clinical Covid-19
assessment, and as a clinical supervisor at the Stevenage super hub for
vaccinations.
In many provinces,
Freemasons are volunteering to help. In Devonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicester and
Wiltshire they are assisting at vaccination sites, while in Dorset they are
driving ambulances and working as volunteer vaccinators.
More than 100
Freemasons from Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire have volunteered with St
John's Ambulance to help the NHS Covid-19 vaccination team. St John's Ambulance
is providing full training for the volunteers, while the Freemasons have made
their buildings available to the St John's logistics team.
Meanwhile, in
Cheshire, Freemasons are working with the Clinical Commissioning Group to
provide the local Masonic Hall as a major vaccination hub to protect patients.
The UGLE campaign is
being carried out through its monthly email to members and official social
media channels. The idea is to reach as members as possible, to encourage them
to help immunise the population.
Dr David Staples,
chief executive of the UGLE, said: "In 2018, more than 18.5 million hours of
volunteer work were undertaken by Freemasons. Now that we have the vaccine in
the UK, it is crucial that we help in every way we can to protect the
population. If the NHS needs people, then we are happy to encourage and
emphasise the importance of this to our members.
"We want to support
the NHS and show our gratitude for its people's efforts and the amazing job
they have done during the pandemic. Freemasons always stand behind our core
values of friendship, integrity, charity and respect - and we are proud to help
so many people."
According to the NHS,
more than six million people had received a vaccine by 28 January. Britain has
ordered 140 million vaccine doses - enough to protect the entire population.
But the NHS faces a race against time to protect everyone before a possible new
wave.
More than ever,
efforts to vaccinate those most at risk from serious illness are now paramount,
and there is a need to ensure that the NHS has as many volunteers as possible.
To help the NHS in the vaccination campaign, volunteers should sign up at: https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk
Volunteers will then
receive an email with login details to sign up online and be asked to download
the GoodSAM app, which will match the person to their area.
Business Advice for all UK firms from starting a business to flotation
Freemasons invited to volunteer for vaccination drive
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Post Date: February 13th, 2021