A clinically vulnerable patient has received the millionth COVID vaccination given in Birmingham and Solihull at her GP surgery.

Roshnan Hamakham, aged 40, was vaccinated at Bath Row Medical Centre on Thursday 20 May 2021.

Speaking about the vaccination, Roshnan said: “I feel very happy to have had my second vaccination, and I just want to say thank you very much to the NHS.

“I’ve stayed at home a lot because of COVID, but now I’ve had both jabs, I feel much safer and am looking forward to seeing friends and family more.”

Dr Onyi Okonkwo, lead GP at the practice said: “This is such an amazing achievement, and is a key milestone in the rollout of the vaccine here in Birmingham; we feel truly privileged to have been able to play a significant part in the programme, which is saving so many lives.

“The vaccine is a safe and key element in managing and controlling the virus. Being vaccinated protects not just you, but those around you, so I would encourage everyone to have their vaccine, when they are invited.”

Paul Jennings, Chief Executive of NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG and leader of the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System, added: “I would like to say a massive heart-felt thank you to everyone who has helped us to achieve this incredible milestone, from the vaccinators to the logistics teams, and all our amazing volunteers.

“GP practices and community partnerships have, at short-notice, been able to adapt to meet the needs of communities to ensure that everyone has fair access to the vaccine when they are eligible.

“It’s also important to recognise the contributions which are being made by our local hospitals and vaccination centres, who have also been working tirelessly over the last few months to deliver the vaccine to our health and social care workers, those most at risk, the clinically vulnerable, carers and the wider adult population.

“The vaccine rollout has been a real triumph for the NHS in Birmingham and Solihull and showcases exactly the kind of thing we can achieve when we work collaboratively, something we’ll be doing even more of over the coming months and years.

“The work doesn’t stop here; we’re now concentrating on ensuring even more people can be vaccinated, as more age groups become eligible.”

Initiatives across Birmingham and Solihull to encourage uptake include:

• multi-generational household vaccination
• holding clinics out-of-hours to suit those who celebrated Ramadan
• utilising mobile vaccination units to reach diverse and vulnerable communities in places of worship and other community venues
• providing vaccines in people’s homes for housebound patients, and
• providing online discussions and information for communities to ask questions about the vaccine