‘I hope things can be normal’ says first in line to get vaccine
Great-grandad was jabbed last week
GREAT-GRANDAD Alan Stevenson made history – by becoming the first patient in North Staffordshire to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Alan got his jab at the Royal Stoke University Hospital shortly before 10am last Wednesday.
The landmark moment was captured on camera as the inoculation programme began.
The Hartshill site is one 50 hospital hubs across the country to take part in the initial wave of vaccinations after the UK became the first nation in the world to approve the Pfizer-biontech vaccine.
The 81-year-old was checked out by a doctor before being prescribed the jab.
He said: “I had an appointment at the eye department on Tuesday and they asked me if I wanted to come back to have the vaccination.
“I was ready to have it. I had no worries about it whatsoever. The last few months have been hard, as they have for everyone. I just hope now I have had this that I will be immune to the virus and things can be more normal.”
Alan, from Blythe Bridge, was met with a round of applause from the hospital staff after he received the jab.
He is an outpatient at the Royal Stoke.
The hospital contacted a number of over-80s from its outpatient list to ask if they wanted to have the vaccine.
After an initial dose, a second jab must be given 21 days later.
Grandfather Mark Mills said he had ‘no hesitation’ when asked to be one of the first people in North Staffordshire to receive the vaccination.
The 82-year-old, who lives at The Westlands in Newcastle, also received the jab at the Royal Stoke yesterday.
He said: “I had a long-standing eye appointment at the main hospital building. I had a phone call asking me if I wanted to have the jab.
“I had no hesitation whatsoever, I felt very lucky.
“I hardly even knew the injection happened, it was very easy and straightforward. There is nothing to be afraid of.”
The grandfather praised the NHS for their work in delivering the vaccine and throughout the pandemic.
“It must have been extremely hard for the people working in the NHS,” he said. “Coming here and seeing what they are doing takes my breath away. It has been said so often but they do an amazing job.
“It has been hard over the last few months, there have been considerable restrictions from the point-of-view of holidays and seeing family, but I feel like one of the lucky ones. I have been able to get out and exercise, I’ve had a roof over my head and I have had my wife with me.”
As well as those aged 80 and over, the vaccination is also being given to care home staff and the Royal Stoke’s own staff who are deemed to be ‘ high risk’. Hospital staff working in high risk areas are also being vaccinated.