Devon's covid immunisations underway

81-year-old goes first

An 81-year-old Plymouth woman has become the first person in the county to have received the lifesaving vaccination against covid-19.

Kathleen Viney was given the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at Derriford Hospital, one of 50 nationwide hubs in the first wave. More hospitals are to come on stream in the coming weeks and months.

Speaking about how the vaccine will impact on her life when she has had both doses, Kathleen said: “I won’t be so scared about going out. It will be nice to go out and have a meal and do some shopping in a big shop instead of just my little store. It didn’t take me long to say 'I’d have it done'. It would be very silly not to have it done.”

Among those immunised in Devon on the first day were frailty nurseDonna Ozanne and Helen Mills, community team manager who both work for Livewell Southwest and who volunteered as vaccinators.

Helen said: “I’m conscious of the massive impact covid has had on our patients. It’s been wonderful what’s been achieved so quickly. We need to pull together and encourage as many people as we can to have the vaccine and start moving back towards normal life. Although covid has had such a negative impact, for me it’s about all about how we came together as a health and care system, pulled together at a time of need. It’s good and exciting to be part of it all.”

Donna added: “It’s something that I’ll tell my grandchildren one day, that their grandmother was on the front line.”

Patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, will be among the first to receive the vaccine. Initially, the 50 hospitals will also begin inviting over 80s in for vaccination and work with care home providers to book their staff in to vaccination clinics. Any appointments not used for these groups will be used for healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from covid. All those vaccinated will need a booster dose 21 days later.

Sue Wilkins, director of mass vaccination and testing at Derriford, said: “Today is a very exciting day, it is the start of what is going to be a really long journey for vaccination. It has taken a huge effort, involving not just clinical staff, but colleagues across our across our organisation, and it is a really momentous day. We have seen some really delighted and grateful patients who have come in for an outpatient appointment and gone home having had their first dose of the COVID vaccine too.”

Darryn Allcorn, lead chief nurse for the NHS in Devon, said: “We hope the start of the vaccination programme today marks the beginning of the end of this pandemic. It’s a good day for science, for the NHS and for everyone in Devon. Thank you to everyone who is working so hard to make this happen. We will be working closely with hospitals and GPs in coming weeks to expand the vaccination programme as more supplies are received.

The Pfizer vaccine is complex to move, store and prepare, which is why it will initially be given in hospitals.