This week the Rye Vaccination Centre marked 10,000 jabs since end of May this year. Anthony Kimber, team leader of the Rye Community Resilience Team, with the MP, Sally-Ann Hart and the mayor, Councillor Rebekah Gilbert had lobbied for a vaccination centre in Rye in early 2021. From the end of May 2021, Clarity Chemists from Ticehurst agreed with NHS England to provide a facility in the Tilling Green Centre.
In a little over three months, the centre has been established by a huge community effort involving some 50 volunteer stewards, around 15 vaccinators from various clinical fields and the team from Clarity Chemists led by Hardik Desai, Ankit Tyagi and Tejas Avaiya.
Last Sunday, at an open air Punjabi meal, the whole team and their supporters came together in glorious sunshine at the Tilling Green centre to mark the milestone. In addition to 10,000 jabs, Rye was one of the first centres in Sussex to provide walk-in vaccination for 16 and 17 year olds. From much positive online feedback it is clear that the centre has built a reputation for taking particular care of all those with special concerns such as needle phobia and anxiety, pregnancy and those with mobility issues.
Importantly, the facility continues to provide a much appreciated Pfizer vaccination service to people in a wide area around Rye. Details of opening timings can be found on Facebook @ryepfizer.
Image Credits: Anthony Kimber .
What an amazing achievement and we are very lucky to now have this vaccination centre in Rye!