300 Chelsea Pensioners vaccinated against virus
AROUND 300 Chelsea Pensioners given the Covid vaccine have called it “the best early Christmas present we could hope for”.
The Pfizer/biontech jab was brought to veterans living at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London on Wednesday.
The vaccinations were carried out by Pippa Nightingale, chief nurse at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who called it an “honour”.
D-day veteran Bob Sullivan said he was pleased to be “one of the lucky ones” and that he was looking forward to being able to mix with family in the future.
The 98-year-old, who was applauded by staff after he received the vaccine, explained: “I was pleased that I was (given it), as are all the pensioners.
“We’ve been very well looked after by the people who run this hospital and I think I’m very fortunate to be here.
“This year has changed life as we know it, causing uncertainty and worry.
“Getting vaccinated against coronavirus today is the best early Christmas gift we could hope for, and thanks to our nursing team here and NHS staff like Pippa, we will have a real spring
in our step as we head into our locked down Christmas.”
The shots were given out as part of a rollout that will see peope in care homes in England with more than 50 beds offered the jabs over the coming weeks.
Ms Nightingale said: “It feels really emotional. It’s been such a challenging year for everybody in the NHS, so it feels really emotional to actually be doing something positive.
“We’ve got to all get together now and deliver this to the whole of our population in the next few months.”
General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, said: “Today marks a new chapter in the hospital’s battle with coronavirus. With an average age of 82, the Chelsea Pensioners are in the highest priority group to receive the vaccine.
“This is an early Christmas present for them whilst they, like the rest of the country, come to terms with the latest restrictions.
“We all look forward to a better 2021 when they can be out and about representing the nation’s veterans throughout the country.
“Meanwhile, they send their warmest wishes to the nation as they too batten down the hatches to celebrate a socially distanced Christmas.”