Health board honours veterans with vaccine-vial wreaths

Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) celebrated veterans with unique wreaths on Remembrance Day created by the VC Gallery in Haverfordwest.

The wreaths were made using the tops of COVID vaccine vials.

The health board explained that support officer Douglas Mottram came up with the idea to recycle and repurpose the tops of vaccine vials to create a poppy after spending time working in vaccination centres.

The VC Gallery, who support veterans and members of the armed forces community particularly through the promotion of arts and crafts created five wreaths, made from the tops of vaccine vials recycled from vaccination centres.

Anna Bird, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships, Diversity and Inclusion, said: “The armed forces have played a huge role in supporting the Covid-19 response in Hywel Dda, working in our vaccination centres earlier in the year as part of their national deployment.

“The creation of these wreaths seemed a fitting way to acknowledge their contribution and to honour and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Maria Battle, Chair of Hywel Dda UHB, said: “It is wonderful how Anna, Doug and the rest of the Strategic Partnership teams have brought together this innovative idea with the help of the VC Gallery.

“These wreaths give us just a small glimpse of how many lives the Covid-19 vaccine has saved.

“They symbolise the heroic response, self-sacrifice and absolute commitment of our staff and our veterans in the war against the pandemic, and remembering those who have lost their lives, their loved ones and our staff who died and who cared for the sick and dying.”

(Lead image: Hywel Dda NHS)