A cheering thread: with permission from Vaccine Task Force, & as part of @UKCICstudy to assess immunity post #CovidVaccine, it was wonderful to offer @AstraZeneca vaccine to all patients in 1 of our @ImperialNHS #dialysis units. Huge volunteer effort at no notice on sat & sun 1/

#CovidVaccine for #dialysis #patients- @mkwillicombe operationalised plans-pairs of vaccinators per 14 patients (66/shift), separate consenter for research bloods, a runner to take the 100s of samples back to HH lab, but key to success was the discussions had by senior nurse 2/

Lead nurse addressed concerns & anxieties beforehand of a v diverse #dialysis #patient population. ~ 80% accepted. #CovidVaccine given on dialysis, pressed 2 mins. No A/Es. Palpable air of optimism. 1:25 dialysis patients died from #COVID19 in uk - felt we were saving lives 3/

The people who had the worst jobs were @stephenmcadoo @Maria_Prend @clclarke227 & Amrita, Paige & Stacey who spun, separated & aliquotted serum, PBMC & more from ~ 200 samples! Baseline immunity . Massive effort! 4/

What was moving & uplifting was despite 2 long days, many steps, need for real persuasion in face of misconceptions, we all finished with a real spring in our step! ~300 offered #CovidVaccine over 2 days; really good work, possibly lifesaving. Wonderful support from unit team 5/

Now have green light for #COVIDVaccination for groups 1-4, we know we can do this - for all our #dialysis (~1200 more to go), #Transplant & #immunosuppressed #kidney #patients. We’ll need #vaccine supply for the units. & hoping #Hammersmith Hospital hub for many of the others 6/

In grim #COVID19 times, this has been a true highlight. Thanks to all but esp the patients for saying yes! Looking forward to massive #vaccination roll out these most vulnerable people. @joolsharris1 @Shonamaxwell8 @j_redh @NeillDuncan3 @grahamlipkin @RenalAssoc @BTStransplant 7/

Importantly, #dialysis #patients from all communities consented to #CovidVaccine thanks to prior chats with amazing Sister Kathleen Lynch - was an honour to give her vaccine at the end of shift. She spread the word so effectively &, importantly looked after us all wonderfully 8/