With a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Betfred Super League that has affected several clubs, including the Red Devils, a number of Salford players and staff members received their vaccinations on Tuesday through the NHS Salford CCG’s mobile vaccination clinic.
Kallum Watkins, Rhys Williams, Jack Ormondroyd, Ryan Lannon and Jack Wells went down to the mobile clinic outside the Lowry in Salford this week, as well as our head of S&C Gareth Whittaker and our head of performance analysis, Chris Nelson. A number of players and staff had already had one or both of their jabs, with more group testing planned with NHS Salford CCG in the near future.
Salford Red Devils doctor Tim Sandels commented: “So I’ve been liaising with Richard Whitehead from the NHS Salford team to organise a squad covid-19 vaccination clinic. It’s been really important to get this done and great we managed it.
“The importance of covid vaccinations in the squad is key at trying to reduce covid-19 illness severity and also to reduce potential transmission within the sporting environment. Everyone involved at the clinic were great and it is brilliant that this first wave of players got their vaccines.
“It will hopefully have a positive impact on the community too to see the city’s only elite level sports club taking the pandemic seriously and getting their athletes vaccinated. We’re all just trying to work together and return to normality.”
Jack Wells is one of the youngest players in the squad this year, and he recognises the importance of getting vaccinated.
The 23-year-old said: “As a young athlete at the beginning of my career, I want to be playing at the top level for as long as I can. However, the risk of long COVID could really have an effect on me, such as cause me to develop long-term respiratory problems.
“That’s why I understand how important it is to get vaccinated, for my own health and also for the health of everyone else who I could transmit it to if I tested positive.
“Everyone seems to talk about how vital it is for the older generation to get their jabs, but it’s just as vital for us younger ones in helping stop the spread of this virus.”
All Salford residents over 18 years old, aged 16/17 years old and have an underlying health condition, or a carer either paid or unpaid can book their Covid-19 vaccine appointments here, or attend a walk-in clinic. NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) shares daily updates and details on walk-in clinics on their social media and their Covid-19 vaccine walk-in page.
The national booking system is also available for anyone to book or manage their appointment.
