Coronavirus in Scotland: easyJet cabin crew recruited by NHS for UK vaccination programme

EasyJet cabin crew who re first aid trained are being recruited and ‘fast tracked’ by the NHS as part of the nationwide effort to distribute the Coronavirus vaccine.

Hundreds of easyJet employees are expected to sign up to be vaccinators across the country (photo: NurPhoto).

The airline wrote to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in November to offer support to the Government in implementing the national Covid-19 vaccination programme this winter.

With over 3000 crew members who are first aid trained, security cleared and based in Edinburgh, Glasgow and elsewhere in the UK, easyJet are offering their crew a chance to participate in the vaccination process.

Crew who apply will be fast-tracked to become trained vaccinators at NHS vaccination centres across the country and will undergo online training and onsite immunisation training to become fully-qualified in administering the vaccine.

easJet says it is expecting ‘hundreds’ of its crew to sign up to the vaccination programme throughout the UK.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO said: “We are delighted to be assisting the NHS in their efforts to protect the nation’s health and help to roll out this crucial vaccination programme.

“We are incredibly proud that once again our pilots and crew can help to support the NHS and that we can play our part for the nation at this time – and I know so many of them will step up to help at this challenging time for the country.

“The progress the country is making on the vaccination programme is an exciting and much-needed development. Once rolled out, it will enable normal life to return and is undoubtedly the key to unlocking travel again and enabling travel for work, to visit friends and family or for a much-needed holiday.

“We are pleased and proud to be able to play our part and stand by ready to support wherever else we can.”

Katy Bryant who has been cabin crew for easyJet since 2005 and is based at Luton, commented on why she has applied to become a vaccinator:

"Like everyone, I’m incredibly grateful to our NHS and all frontline healthcare workers for all they continue to do for the country with the continued pressure they are facing from the virus, so when the opportunity came for cabin crew to assist the NHS as vaccinators I knew I wanted to apply.

“As cabin crew we are in a great position to support the vaccination effort because of the first aid and safety-focused training we receive for our job, so I am sure I will be joined by many of my fellow cabin crew at easyJet who will want to support the NHS in the vital roll-out of the vaccine across the country

Last year, the airline worked with the NHS on recruiting its first aid trained cabin crew volunteers to directly support clinical services in NHS Nightingale hospitals and airline staff to volunteer as NHS responders.

easyJet cabin crew and pilots have also been volunteering to support the NHS through Project Wingman which is providing wellbeing support to frontline clinical staff battling the coronavirus pandemic in 85 hospitals across the country.

A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.