DOZENS of volunteers have come forward in response to a plea for helpers at the county’s new coronavirus vaccine hub.

The opening of the hub had been delayed due to insufficient supplies of the vaccine - but when the call came that the supply issue was resolved, organisers pulled out all the stops to get the centre staffed within a few days.

Cllr Tom Wells was asked to co-ordinate volunteers for the new Three Counties Showground vaccine site and said he was overwhelmed with the response.

In four days, 56 people came forward, with that number set to be doubled as vaccinations at the site increase.

On Facebook, Cllr Wells thanked everyone who volunteered, saying: “A huge thank you to everyone who answered my call for volunteers to work at the Three Counties Vaccination Centre.

“Just four days ago, on February 24, I attended a meeting regarding the immediate opening of the Mass Vaccination Centre at The Three Counties Showground.

"The hold-up had been access to sufficient vaccine supply. That is now resolved.

"In just three days, a shift rota has been put together involving 56 volunteers to cover the 12-hour day, seven days a week operation.

"That was a challenging logistical operation, but was only possible due to the large number of amazing local people who came forward offering to help.

"Additional pods will likely be utilised, doubling the output of vaccinations each day.

"To do so I shall need to double the current number of volunteers from 56 to 112.

"So if you haven’t been allocated a shift just yet, your time will come and you will be contacted.”

The Three Counties site, set to open this week, will be the latest in the county’s vaccination programme following the openings of sites at the Artrix in Bromsgrove and St Peter’s Baptist Church in Worcester.

The site at the Three Counties is being run by SW Healthcare and plans to begin vaccinations from Tuesday, March 2.

SW Healthcare, who also run the other two hubs is a federation of GP practices in Worcestershire.