A NEWTOWNARDS nurse who took the lead in the country’s largest mass Covid-19 vaccination programme has retired. After 37 years’ nursing at the South Eastern Trust, Tanya Daly, a dedicated cardiology nurse, is retiring, leaving a lasting legacy from her recent work with the Covid-19 vaccination rollout. Tanya, who began her long and distinguished career in January 1985 in Ards Hospital, can be credited with implementing and leading the largest mass Covid-19 vaccination programme in Northern Ireland. While the task of delivering the vital vaccine may have seemed huge, Tanya rose to the challenge and dedicated herself to the vaccination programme. She designed and took the clinical lead of the Covid-19 vaccination, initially across the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and then across the region. She managed to set up the Trust’s vaccination programme within three weeks and deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to all of the Trust’s staff. Against the clock, on March 29, 2021, the SSE Arena in Belfast Ards nurse who led NI’s Covid vaccination retires after 37 years Tanya Daly, Strategic and Capital Development Manager and Clinical Lead, Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, South Eastern HSC Trust. opened its doors after being transformed into the largest mass vaccination centre in Northern Ireland. In just six weeks, Tanya had redesigned the venue, established a vaccine supply chain, an IT infrastructure and gathered a multidisciplinary workforce. In less than six months, over 380,316 vaccinations were administered. The Chief Executive of the South Eastern Trust, Roisin Coulter said Tanya spent her entire career in nursing and is totally dedicated to her patients. “Tanya stepped up and said ‘yes’ when asked to lead the regional mass vaccination centre at the SSE Arena in Belfast and more recently at the Titanic Exhibition Centre,” said Mrs Coulter. “Tanya’s leadership has been outstanding. She is and will continue to be, an inspiration to us all. She added: “It has been a privilege working with Tanya and on behalf of our staff, our patients, and our clients I want to say a huge thank you. “Tanya’s legacy will be the many lives that she has undoubtedly saved. Everyone in the Trust wishes her a long, happy and well deserved retirement.
