As the grim milestone of 100,000 Covid deaths approaches, Britain has called on tens of thousands of volunteers to administer vaccines in the largest inoculation campaign in its history.

Sarah Glanville-Webber, a former British Airways flight attendant, who lost her job in September, is one of those who has stepped forward to help.

"Whilst I can't fly with British Airways, whilst I can't do that, I personally choose to do something that can help make the process faster, help in any way," the young mother from Reigate, 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of London, told AFP.

On Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock called the efforts of those who had stepped forward "truly heartwarming" and "selfless".

"I particularly want to thank the 80,000 people who've stepped forward to help deliver this, doing things like volunteering to stand in car parks for eight hours a day in the freezing cold, to ensure that elderly people can safely get to the vaccination centre," he told a news conference.

Britain, which has been the hardest hit nation in Europe by the virus, has had to contend with a spike in cases due to a more contagious variant of the virus. 

New lockdown measures were introduced in early January to try to cut its close-contact spread.

Britain began the rollout of its vaccination programme at the start of December and has set the goal of giving a first dose of the vaccine to 15 million -- those over the age of 70, the extremely vulnerable and health and social care workers -- before February 15.

During the first wave of infections from last March, volunteers were called on to help the vulnerable by carrying out errands like shopping.

Now the same group is being asked to contribute to the mass vaccination campaign.

The Sun newspaper, one of the country's most popular tabloids, has launched a campaign calling for a "jabs army" among is readers to help the state-run National Health Service (NHS). 

It has said 50,000 volunteers responded to the appeal.

- 'All in the same boat' -

Glanville-Webber began volunteering after speaking to her local council who said they were looking for people to help out.  

She alternates between delivering personal protective equipment to local hospitals and sessions at a vaccination centre. 

At the centre she helps the elderly and monitors any possibly side effects after the injection.

"I liked listening to people and I like to reassure people," she said. 

"We're all in the same boat," the volunteer added, explaining that the more help she can offer, "the quicker this hopefully will go away".

One or two days a week,  Glanville-Webber works five-hour shifts at the vaccination centre. 

She described the vaccinations as "very organised" and often those receiving the jabs were "anxious" after being forced to stay at home for long periods of time.

Ultimately, though, she said it was a "huge satisfaction seeing their faces light up" as those coming to receive their shots spoke with volunteers.

Darren de Vally, who works in the charity sector in Manchester, northwest England, also spoke to the local council about volunteering. 

He has made himself available to work in general practitioner-run centres in the city and was contacted after filling in an online form.

"These roles need to be done, these roles need to be filled, and I'm quite happy just to be told to go and do whatever it is that's needed," he said.

He recalled that during his first shift he had seen elderly people who were "thrilled" to have the chance to get vaccinated. 

Others, de Vally said, had come ahead of their appointment date to make sure they were ready when the day came.

Thanks to the flexibility of working from home, the Manchester volunteer is available to help out every other Friday as well as on the weekend.

De Vally explained he is "really happy to do this for as long as I can", while lockdown across the country continues.  

"Just as long as it's required," he added.