First care home residents in Stockport vaccinated

8 Jan 2021 11:12
Published by: Scott Callan

Brinnington Hall became the first care home in Stockport to receive the Covid-19 vaccination for its residents.

They were given the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine after transportation and storage challenges for the vials were overcome by Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, which is overseeing the borough's community vaccination rollout.

Margaret Harley, 78, who has lived at Brinnington Hall for just over a year, was the first resident to receive her vaccination.

She said: “Everything went smoothly and was very well organised. I feel privileged to be one of the first to have the vaccine and although we have stayed safe at home, I am hopeful that this is the start of the whole world bouncing back.”

Rachel McIntosh, Brinnington Hall home manager, said: “We have always had faith that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and the availability of a vaccine has been our continued hope that we will return to normal.

“The registered nurses who came to complete the vaccinations have been amazing and the process was fast and efficient. We are just so relieved to know that our residents will be protected from this virus, as that has been the most important thing to us throughout.”

Nurse Cecilia Lockwood, who administered the first vaccine, said: “I am so proud to be rolling out the first vaccines - it is such an important step so that care home residents are able to see their loved ones again."

Staff at the care home had already been vaccinated at Stepping Hill Hospital, as they were amongst the first in the country to receive the jab when the largest vaccination programme in NHS history began.

Priority cohorts for the vaccination are frontline healthcare workers, care home residents and staff, over 80s and the extremely clinically vulnerable.

Further cohorts will be invited to come forward for their vaccination in 2021 through a letter from their GP or the national NHS. People are being urged to be patient and not contact the NHS to get an appointment until you receive a letter. You can find more information about the priority groups on the GOV.UK website.

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