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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tony Jones & Ryan Merrifield

Senior royal spends birthday volunteering at NHS vaccine centre in fight against Covid

The Countess of Wessex has spent her birthday volunteering with St John Ambulance at an NHS vaccination centre.

Sophie, who turned 57 on Thursday, was pictured wearing a face mask while she worked at a centre in Surrey greeting patients, taking their details and looking after their wellbeing while they had their jabs.

At the end of her morning shift, she was presented with a Covid pin badge to thank her for her support during the pandemic, as well as a bouquet of flowers to mark her birthday.

Sophie, the SJA's grand president, trained as a care volunteer in support of the NHS vaccination programme and did a number of shifts last year.

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Sophie greeted patients, took their details and looked after their wellbeing while they had their jabs (PA)

Ann Cable, the SJA's chief commissioner, said: "We are honoured that the Countess of Wessex chose to spend her birthday with St John.

"It is a testament to the outstanding contribution of our volunteers, not just in response to the pandemic but in all the many different walks of life in which we provide first aid and other services to our communities."

She appealed to anyone considering using their free time to help others to come forward.

Sophie was presented with a Covid pin badge to thank her for her support during the pandemic (PA)

"We can never have enough volunteers and I would encourage anybody who has been inspired by recent events to help their community, to speak to St John Ambulance and find out more about the opportunities available," she said.

"Volunteers at St John can be part of the team that saves lives, whether it's helping people in the community, providing first aid at events or supporting the NHS."

It comes after the Countess backed the Mirror's campaign to make the internet safe for children amid growing concern for young people being groomed, bullied and exploited online.

Sophie watches on as a patient she processed is jabbed (PA)

To coincide with our call launched last week Sophie did an exclusive article warning how the internet has become a dangerous wild west for children.

The countess says the pandemic has created a “perfect storm of risks, leaving children exposed to abusers who target those who might be feeling lonely and isolated.”

The Mirror is calling for the Online Safety Bill to be strengthened so there is more protection for children.

We also want more help for parents so they can help their kids navigate the dangers of the internet, tougher penalties for tech firm bosses who fail to prevent grooming and bullying and mandatory classes in schools on internet safety.

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