- Boots has polled its pharmacists who are administering the COVID-19 vaccine across its network of 39 vaccination hubs in England
- Pharmacists report patients sharing lockdown-easing plans after they get their vaccine, crying tears of joy and taking celebratory selfies
As the NHS invites over 30s in England to book their first COVID-19 vaccine appointment this week, Boots pharmacists are sharing the touching responses of patients who receive the jab at its stores each day.
According to a survey of Boots pharmacists administering the vaccine, excitement and hope are the most common emotions when people arrive at stores for their first jab, with over one third of pharmacists surveyed noting these feelings in patients.
Patients feel overwhelmingly positive once they have had their first vaccine shot, according to the Boots poll. Almost all pharmacists surveyed (97%) said that patients have told them what they are looking forward to doing in the coming weeks and months – from meeting friends to travelling. Almost two-thirds (59%) said they have witnessed patients crying tears of joy after receiving the vaccine and almost half (47%) said they had seen patients taking a celebratory selfie once they have left the vaccination area.
Bilal Farooq, Pharmacist at Boots in Halifax who administers the COVID-19 vaccine to patients, said: “The response we have had from patients getting their vaccine with us here at Boots in Halifax has been incredibly heart-warming. We have seen patients crying with joy, dancing and cheering after they get their jab! People tell us that the vaccine gives them hope of returning to normal life – from seeing family and friends to travelling – and it is the honour of my life to get to be a part of this special moment for them.”
To date, Boots has administered over 250,000 vaccines since it opened its first vaccination hub in Halifax on 14th January, 2021. Boots offers vaccines at 39 hubs in England – with plans to open more in the coming weeks – bringing the number of jabs it can administer per day across the country to 5,000. Boots also administers COVID-19 vaccines at over 50 of its pharmacies in Northern Ireland.
Patients will be invited directly by the NHS to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment at specific Boots pharmacies.