Hospital bosses hope Covid vaccine rollout could mean a third wave is less severe

By Julia Gregory, local democracy reporter

Hospital bosses are hoping that the rollout of the Covid vaccine programme could mean any third wave of the pandemic will be less severe.

Professor Tim Orchard who is the head of Imperial NHS Foundation Trust explained that it could mean fewer hospital admissions.

More than 30m people in the UK have been vaccinated, with 4m also getting their second dose so far.

In London, 3.4m people  have had at least one coronavirus vaccine so far. That’s out of a population of some 9m.

During the the pandemic 5,000 coronavirus patients were treated at the trust’s acute hospitals – St Mary’s in Paddington, Charing Cross in Fulham and the Hammersmith Hospital.

This January there were 476 coronavirus patients, down from a peak of 492, with 123 seriously ill patients in intensive care.

There were 58 patients with coronavirus this week, with ten of them in intensive care, according to the trust’s latest figures from March 31.

Professor Orchard said:“As I was walking round the other day it was very clear there was an almost palpable sense of relief amongst the staff that things have improved and continue to improve.”

And he urged people to get the Covid vaccine to reduce the impact of the virus.

“We are hopeful that even if there is a third wave the number of people needing to come to hospital  will be significantly less because of the high proportion of the vaccine and those most at high risk getting vaccinated.”

He has recovered from Covid himself and added: “I reiterate get vaccinated  because it is the best way for you to get yourself safe.”

So far 21,810, or 81 per cent  of the workforce have had the jab and faith leaders and 78 vaccine advocates are talking to staff about any concerns they might have about the Covid vaccine.