Black Country pensioners first in country to be given Covid-19 vaccine at GP surgery
Two Black Country pensioners have become the first patients in England to receive a Covid-19 jab at a GP surgery in England.
Halesowen couple Gerry and Maureen Hughes, aged 81 and 84, were given the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine at the town's Feldon Lane Surgery on Monday afternoon.
Speaking after being injected, Mrs Hughes, a retired telephonist, said she now hoped to be able to see family members at Christmas.
"It means an awful lot," she said. "I can't thank the people enough that have made this vaccine possible.
"We're just really excited."
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Mr Hughes, a former automotive industry manufacturing director, added: "I think people don't recognise what goes on behind the scenes - and logistically, what they have achieved in bringing these vaccines to a surgery, I think is fantastic."
Mr and Mrs Hughes were able to be given the first of two jabs after the consignment arrived at the surgery at 1.47pm and were both given stickers to celebrate.
The delivery from an undisclosed secure location elsewhere in the Midlands was among the first to family doctors across England.
Dr Gillian Love, clinical director of the Halesowen Primary Care Network, was administering the first vaccinations.
She said: “The vaccine is a fantastic opportunity to restore a degree of normality, for families and friends to reconnect, and for the country to get back on its feet.
“I would encourage anyone offered the Covid-19 vaccine to step forward when asked to do so. This is our opportunity to protect ourselves and each other.”
It was a proud day for Dr Mohit Mandirtatta, who is among the medical team at Feldon Lane overseeing the vaccination process.
He said: “We are all absolutely honoured and delighted that we are here today, being able to say we are one of the first places delivering the vaccine to our patients.
“Last week I think it was amazing when we heard what was happening in Coventry with Margaret Keenan, and we are lucky and proud that we are here today as GPs able to offer it to our patients.
“This is a massive step in the fight against Covid. We have all being looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. It has been such a difficult year for everybody.
“This does give us that hope that we can get out of this tunnel that we are in. But what I would reiterate is we are not out of the woods yet.”
Dr Mandirtatta stressed that the journey has only just begun. Mass testing won’t start in earnest until the new year, when the easier to distribute Oxford vaccine will hopefully be available.
He said: “It is very important that people continue to follow the national guidelines, wash their hands, wear masks, maintain social-distancing, because of the vaccine programme starting.
“It will take time for us to get everybody vaccinated so we can’t ease off on the hard work we have done so far now.
“Every vaccine in its own way has its own logistical challenges. We have been preparing for this for some time.
“We have been working in collaboration with primary care networks and the wider primary care team, pharmacists, health care assistants and nurses.
“The NHS has been planning this for some time.
“We as GPs are used to delivering mass vaccination programmes because we do the flu vaccine every year and obviously this is the biggest in the NHS’ history.”
Dr Mandirtatta said the landmark was an emotional one for staff, who have endured a very difficult summer.
He said: “I think the whole of the NHS has been absolutely incredible over the last nine and 10 months. There really are heroes throughout it.
“We in primary care have been trying our best to work as normally as we can do and we have been open throughout the pandemic.
“Our day to day work will continue. We are going to use this site as the vaccination service for Halesowen. Our other day to day work, we are lucky enough to have a branch surgery where we are working.
“There will nurses, health care assistants and pharmacists who will be taking part, so it is a real team effort to get this Covid vaccine to our patients.”
