MORE big firms have joined our Jabs Army drive — with tens of thousands of volunteers helping vaccinate the nation.
Amazon, Virgin and Merlin are the latest on board, and are urging staff to sign up.
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We’re calling on Brits to join our Jabs Army and become vaccine volunteersCredit: Getty
Retail giant Amazon is asking its 40,000 UK staff to join and tech firm Virgin Media encouraged 12,000 workers to follow suit.
Theme park giant Merlin and its 10,000 employees are also backing the rollout, taking potential recruits to 62,000 in one day.
They join the likes of BT, Sky, BA, John Lewis, Waitrose, Santander, Tui and Capita who are already behind our campaign.
By last night, 28,000 readers had signed up to become Steward Volunteers after we launched Jabs Army on New Year’s Day.
They will ensure the safe and smooth operation of NHS vaccination centres so 15million Brits can get immunised by March.
Amazon’s John Boumphrey said: “We’re proud to be backing the campaign from The Sun and the NHS Volunteer Responders to raise awareness and help recruit more volunteers.”
Amazon is asking its 40,000 UK staff to get involvedCredit: AP:Associated Press
Virgin Media followed suit and urged its 12,000 workers to sign up
So did Merlin Entertainment – taking potential recruits to a whopping 62,000Credit: Handout
How to sign up
VOLUNTEERS for the Jabs Army are being asked to first register online at nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk
You will then receive an email with log-in details to sign up online.
Finally, you will be asked to download the GoodSAM app on a smartphone which will match you to a role in your area.
Services will be opening in the coming days and weeks, with different areas up and running at different times, so you might not be required on site for some weeks. Not everyone who signs up will need to be called upon.
You need to commit to only two six-hour shifts a month at a vaccination service, and no prior experience or qualifications are required.
You will work as part of a team that will include NHS staff and volunteers. The Royal Voluntary Service will conduct appropriate background checks.
Go to nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk
Virgin Media CEO Jeff Dodds added: “We’re proud to roll up our sleeves to help get this vital jabs job done.
“We’ll let our people know how to volunteer.”
Merlin’s Nick Varney said he was “delighted” to support the drive, adding: “This is a proactive way we can help.
Volunteers will play a crucial role in getting 15million Brits immunised by MarchCredit: AFP
Music tour mogul John Giddings says venues like The O2 would be perfect vaccine centresCredit: Getty
Music tour mogul John Giddings also has thousands of skilled people ready to operate venues as vaccination centres.
The Solo boss said: “Places like The O2 and Manchester Arena, which are currently sat empty, would be perfect.
“Our staff would love to get started on this vital national project.”
Jabs Army jabbed
By Mike Ridley
JABS Army volunteers will get the vaccine, the NHS has revealed.
They are to be classed as “protected workers” along with doctors, medics and nurses.
NHS bosses aim to vaccinate “a significant number” of their frontline staff by early February.
And the jab will also be given to other health care workers, including volunteers, in the following weeks.
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Confederation, said: “It is right to prioritise frontline health and care staff — irrespective of which part of the sector they work in or whether they are a student or volunteer.”
Vaccinations will be prioritised according to local risk assessment.
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