‘The fightback is on’: Covid-19 vaccinations begin at Chesterfield’s historic Winding Wheel

On Thursday, the town’s iconic Winding Wheel theatre became Derbyshire’s latest Covid-19 vaccination site.

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As reported on Wednesday, the Winding Wheel will initially carry out jabs for healthcare workers – while patient vaccinations will take place at the nearby Wheatbridge Surgery, which has a car park and is considered more accessible for elderly residents, from Saturday.

Among the first to receive her initial dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Winding Wheel was 25-year-old Chesterfield woman Abbie Turner, who looks after people with learning disabilities.

She said: “I feel wonderful to have had it.

“I get my second dose on April 1 and then I will have complete peace of mind that I won’t get this horrible virus.”

Chris Dunn, of Ripley, works at a residential children’s home – and celebrates his 48th birthday on Friday.

“The jab was a wonderful early birthday present,” he said.

“When you receive your call, I’d urge you to go and get your vaccine – this is how we will get out of this awful pandemic.”

Care co-ordinator Kieran Stammers, 24, of Newton, said he felt ‘really good’ after receiving his first dose of the vaccine.

“It’s been a tough year for everyone but now there’s definitely light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.

By February 15, the Government aims to have offered a first vaccine dose to everyone in the top four priority groups – care home residents and workers, NHS frontline staff, the over-70s and the extremely clinically vulnerable.

In Derbyshire, this equals around 240,000 people.

Ian Murray, site co-ordinator for Covid-19 centres, said staff were hoping to carry out 1,100 vaccinations at the Winding Wheel on Thursday and Friday.

He said people who fall outside the top four priority groups will eventually be offered vaccinations at the Winding Wheel.

Mr Murray added: “We’ve secured the Winding Wheel as a vaccination site for at least six months.

“We hope to eventually deliver up to 3,000 vaccinations a day here.”

He thanked and praised everyone involved in the operation and added: “The fightback against coronavirus is well and truly on.”

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted that the Covid-19 vaccination programme is being rolled out in Chesterfield.”

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