Official figures released this week show that the Midlands is due to become the first region in the country to reach 13million lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine doses, as the rollout of the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS continues.

The milestone is nearing closer on the day that a video by NHS organisations in the Midlands has been released to help celebrate the Midlands’ part in the nationwide vaccination programme. The video features a host of NHS staff, members of the public and politicians who have each shared their personal reasons for getting the vaccine to encourage others who have not yet received theirs to come forward to do so.

After delivering the Midlands’ 10millionth vaccine dose in May, NHS England and NHS Improvement encouraged communities across the East and West Midlands to share what the vaccine means to them by sharing pictures or videos on social media using the hashtag #WhatItMeansToMe.

Over 500 people have already shared their reasons for getting the vaccine as part of the campaign, with more people sharing their own stories each week. Each and every submission received was considered to form part of the video which features impactful personal stories from across the Midlands.

What the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine means to the Midlands

Helen Ashby from Stourbridge in the West Midlands submitted a video sharing how the vaccine is helping to protect her son David. Helen said: “David has down syndrome and autism and also a heart condition and sleep apnoea. It was for this reason that we felt it was really important that he, myself and his sister, and the staff team that support him were all vaccinated against COVID-19”.

May Parsons, the modern matron who delivered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial at University Hospital Coventry in December, shared her message of what the vaccine means to her. May said: “The vaccine means that everyone is going to be safe and they can be given the best protection from COVID-19. I truly encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it’s the right thing to do for yourself, for your family and for your community”.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands shared his personal and powerful reason for having the vaccine. “I lost my Mum to COVID-19,” he said. “I know very well that if she’d been vaccinated, she’d still be here now. It could have saved her life. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I went through. So please go and grab your jab”.

Dr Shelha Imtiaz-Umer, a GP who continues to support the vaccination programme in Derby in the East Midlands, also shared her vaccination message. Shelha said: “I have both parents who would be particularly vulnerable should they become unwell with COVID-19. As soon as they were offered the vaccine, they took it up, along with other family members. For us, this has meant that we have some semblance of normality in our family life”.

‘The vaccine is safe, effective, is helping to slow the spread of the virus’

Alison Tonge, the NHS England and NHS Improvement director responsible for overseeing the vaccination programme across the Midlands, said: “NHS staff and volunteers across the Midlands are continuing to work incredibly hard to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to each and every person in the Midlands at the same time as continuing to deliver life-saving care to all those who need it.

“We know that each and every one of the nine million people who have already received the vaccine in the Midlands will have their own reasons for doing so, which it’s why sharing these incredibly impactful personal stories is absolutely invaluable in helping to show that the vaccine is safe, effective, is helping to slow the spread of the virus and prevent thousands of people from becoming seriously unwell and dying from the virus.

“Getting both doses of the vaccine takes just a few seconds and is the best way to protect yourself and those around you from the virus.”

People in the Midlands are being urged to have their second COVID-19 jab as soon as possible so they can get maximum protection from the virus and to protect themselves and their local communities. People can  get an earlier appointment, with staff introducing thousands more slots to ensure everyone can get jabbed after eight weeks.

All adults over 18 can book their life-saving COVID-19 jab online at www.nhs.uk/COVID-19-vaccination. Anyone without access to the internet can also call NHS 119 to book their vaccination appointment over the phone.