Salford Royal Hospital began rolling out its vaccination programme today, with 86 year Ted Jones, the first person in the city to have the potentially life-saving jab at the new hospital hub.
"It is a momentous occasion, I feel like a celebrity today" says Ted, who has been volunteering at the hospital for almost eleven years, and has been shielding at home in Swinton since the start of the pandemic.
"I do feel a bit nervous but I am pleased that we have the vaccination here now" he adds "I am just looking forward to being able to get back to normal and come back to work with the rest of the volunteers who I am really missing. I really miss volunteering at this place – volunteering is my life, I love it here."
Salford Royal is one of fifty hospitals in the country chosen to administer the first batch of vaccines to care home staff and NHS frontline staff. 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 get the jab.
The hospital will also begin inviting people over the age of 80 into hospital for a jab, and will work with care home providers to book their staff in to vaccination clinics. All those vaccinated will need a booster jab 21 days later.
The Salford NHS Trust adds that "Across Greater Manchester, GPs and other primary care staff are also being put on standby to start delivering the jab. A small number of GP-led primary care networks will begin doing so during the following week (week beginning 14th December) with more practices in more areas joining in on a phased basis during December and in the coming months."
Raj Jain Chief Executive of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, of which Salford Royal is a part, adds: "The COVID-19 vaccination programme is the single biggest immunisation programme in the history of the NHS and we are absolutely privileged and excited that our Salford Royal site and group is one of the first in the country to receive the vaccine and be at the forefront of its delivery in Greater Manchester.
"Today is a momentous milestone in our COVID-19 recovery and an important positive step on our journey to return to normal" he says "We have safely received and stored the vaccine and are ready to go. I would like to thank our teams, including our estates and facilities, pharmacy, supply, HR and occupational health, who have worked so hard to prepare for this. The vaccination programme will help us see a reduction of cases across our communities and keep people safe from COVID-19."
Meanwhile, Dr Chris Booth, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia at Salford Royal, explains why he will be taking up the offer of a vaccination...
"The COVID-19 vaccine will help us to get the virus under control; this is a real light at the end of the tunnel. I am looking forward to seeing a reduction in the number of people I treat on our unit who are seriously ill with COVID-19.
"On a personal level, staff members will feel safer in their roles and a little less worried about the risks they pose to their own loved ones in terms of passing on the virus" he adds "Throughout the pandemic, Critical Care staff have had the unfortunate position of treating critically ill colleagues and the COVID-19 vaccine should help to bring this sad situation to an end..."
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