Fulham mum Fadila Ghouila (pictured right) at the new vaccine hub at the Novotel London West in central Hammersmith
Fulham mum Fadila Ghouila became the first H&F resident to get the Covid jab at the borough’s new NHS mass vaccination centre.
The mother-of-five said she was ‘very happy’ as she helped open the new vaccine hub at Novotel London West, in central Hammersmith, on Monday (15 March).
“I was really excited to get it,” added Fadila, 42, who lives in Fulham. “It feels like it has been a long time since the start of the pandemic, so I’m very happy.”
As the first resident to receive her jab at the newly launched centre, Fadila received a huge round of applause from the expert team of medics and stewards assembled to help administer the vaccines. “Everything went very well,” she said, after receiving her jab from trained vaccinator Emilee Walby, who usually works as a dental hygienist.
First day
Stewards lined the centre to check people in as they arrived for their jabs at the centre a stone’s throw from Hammersmith tube and bus stations, between Hammersmith Road and Talgarth Road.
Once checked in, residents were taken to one of eight booths set up to administer the jabs, before answering a few health questions then receiving the vaccine in a quick and simple process.
Moments after Fadila’s jab, housekeeper Meenakshi Mahyavanshi, 55, took her spot in the vaccine booth. “Everything was very well organised and smooth, and the jab wasn’t painful,” said grandmother-of-five Meenakshi.
“I feel like now I can be more confident to travel to see my family in India in the future, because I haven’t been for two years. I have been missing them so much, even though we speak every day on the phone. They are very excited I have had my vaccine now and we can be reunited soon.”
Novotel centre
The new vaccination centre at the Novotel London West, run by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, expects to inoculate more than 5,000 people each week when it is fully operational.
Opening hours will run through the day and into the evening, to allow residents plenty of opportunity to book a convenient time slot.
“The centre is just around the corner for me, so it’s made getting the vaccine much easier,” explained Audrey Weir, 56, who is a carer for her 81-year-old mum.
“I was very happy to get it done and I hope this is the beginning of the end of the pandemic. I so want to go on holiday, the big question is where!”
For Fulham resident Christoph Hollger, 57, he hopes the rollout of the vaccine across more of the population will mean a return to normality for him after losing work as a tour guide in the past year.
“I am really hoping to get my life and job back,” he said. “That is why I hope many people will get the vaccination and give everyone the opportunity to go back to normal. Getting the vaccine is so smooth and easy, it’s really no hassle and didn’t hurt one bit.”
Please get your jab
The launch of the new centre comes as the NHS is inviting local residents in certain age groups or people with long term health conditions to receive their jabs.
The 25 million jabs already given in the UK are proven to be safe and effective in protecting you, your family, friends and colleagues against Covid.
Go online or phone to book your appointment at the centre.
- Book your vaccination appointment
- Or call 119 free of charge (7am to 11pm, seven days a week)
Vaccinations are by advance booking and only if you're included in the invited groups. If you’re not in the invited groups, please wait until the NHS gets to you.
If you have any questions about the vaccine, getting to the vaccine centre or facilities at the centre please contact the H&F CAN helpline on Freephone 0800 145 6095, open 8am to 6pm seven days a week, or email: can@lbhf.gov.uk
Find out more about Covid jabs at the Novotel London West mass vaccination centre here.
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