St Cuthbert’s Care, a regional charity working across the northeast of England and a frontline registered social care provider, recently began offering Covid-19 booster jabs to residents under its care.
Founded in the Catholic faith, St Cuthbert’s has provided elderly care since the year 1989, with all its homes upholding Catholic ethos and values while welcoming residents from any other denominations, and atheists.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, St Cuthbert’s Care CEO, Moira Ashman, successfully led the day-to-day operations of the charity’s nursing home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, known as St Catherine’s, to keep it Covid-free. Her leadership through the health crisis is underpinned by her own and the charity’s philosophy of valuing all staff and people with transparent and inclusive management.
After the first wave of vaccinations arrived at St Cuthbert’s back in January, the recent rollout of the boosters for residents at staff at St Catherine’s and the charity’s Holy Cross home in Sunderland provided a major shot in the arm ahead of the winter months.
Over 80 per cent of residents have now received the booster, in addition to their customary double vaccinations.
A delighted Moira Ashman said following the rollout: “It’s fantastic to have the boosters going into arms so soon after they were announced, and it gives residents that little bit more reassurance that they are protected.”
Indeed, so delighted were the residents at the St Catherine’s Home after receiving their jabs that they broke out into a chorus of song, with one of the elderly residents known as Mary, leading everyone in a rendition of Qué Será Será.
Mary said: “It was such a nice atmosphere when we received the boosters, that it felt appropriate to join together for a bit of a sing-song and rejoice.”
The UK government has repeatedly emphasised that vaccination will pave the way out of the Covid-19 crisis and away from social restrictions, and with vaccines forming the crux of the Covid Autumn and Winter Plan, one can be encouraged by the fact that the most vulnerable are already being offered the protection they need.
