Furloughed staff from European budget airline EasyJet are set to become trained vaccinators for the NHS across the UK.
The announcement follows the airline's offer to help the UK government with its efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines across the country.
With over 3000 crew who are first aid trained, security cleared and based up and down the UK in London, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast, EasyJet's cabin crew are set to provide support in rolling out the nationwide programme.
EasyJet is still operating a reduced schedule amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its furloughed crew are said to be ready to go whenever needed.
Crew who apply will be fast-tracked to become trained vaccinators at NHS vaccination centres across the UK and will undergo online training and onsite immunisation training to become fully-qualified in administering the vaccine.
Johan Lundgren, EasyJet's CEO, said he was honoured to be able to assist the NHS during this time.
"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," Lundgren said.
"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, said it was the perfect opportunity for her to give back to the NHS.
"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," Bryant said.
"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."
