The High Sheriff of Dorset has thanked and praised covid-19 vaccination volunteers and staff across the country.

The High Sheriff of Dorset, George Streatfeild, and his wife Amanda, were invited to have their first coronavirus vaccinations at Bridport Medical Centre on February 10.

He said: "The objective of a High Sheriff if to meet people; lockdowns are therefore really frustrating. Despite all the temptations, I am strongly of the view that we needed to show leadership by example and stay at home.

"So, when Amanda and I were invited for our first vaccination in the medical centre at Bridport, it was the perfect excuse to don the High Sheriff uniform and thank the staff and volunteers personally for the amazing work at the same time as being jabbed."

Mr Streatfeild says the success of Dorset's vaccination programme stems from the legacy of the 2012 Olympics when the sailing was hosted in Weymouth and Portland.

"At that time," he said, "the police, fire and rescue and other agencies along with the councils embraced the voluntary sector as an essential part of their operations. Uniquely, Dorset invited volunteer leaders to be a part of the strategic team and to be integral to the solutions, not peripheral add-ons.

"That mind-set has remained so that within hours of the call going out, 8,500 volunteers signed up not just to inject but to fulfil all the other operational requirements from administration to car parking.

"Dorset has been so successful in this that we have not had to call on any outside national support for help. That is fantastic and a huge credit to our county volunteers, council staff and those in our primary agencies.

"When we turned up for our injection, the speed, efficiency and clarity of what was expected of us was breath-taking; we were through in a matter of minutes. All the more impressive was the good humour and relaxed way we were treated.

"This is going to be a nine-month marathon, at a sprint, and the fact that there are so many volunteers who are so willing and enthusiastic about it gives immense confidence it will happen.

"Amanda and I were 'game makers' in Weymouth and we remember well the atmosphere at the time - congratulations to all our volunteers and staff for rekindling that flame."

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