“It wasn’t painful at all,” says Ann as she receives vaccine

The most vulnerable people in the Borders are now being given their first injection of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine for Covid-19.
Ann Slater, who lives at St Ronan's Care Home in Innerleithen, receives her vaccine.Ann Slater, who lives at St Ronan's Care Home in Innerleithen, receives her vaccine.
Ann Slater, who lives at St Ronan's Care Home in Innerleithen, receives her vaccine.

This follows confirmation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that the vaccine can be packed down into smaller sizes and moved directly to care homes to administer to residents and staff on site.

The programme will take place over a two-week period and see both residents and staff vaccinated by a team of community vaccinators comprising of district nurses and local GPs.

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One of the first care home residents to be vaccinated, Ann Slater, who resides at St Ronan’s House in Innerleithen, was keen to say how simple the process was, and assuage any fears people may have.

Karen Renton is vaccinated.Karen Renton is vaccinated.
Karen Renton is vaccinated.

She said: “Everyone should take the vaccine if they get the chance.

“It wasn’t painful at all and if it saves you from getting the virus, then it can only be a good thing.”

Senior support worker at St Ronan’s House, Karen Renton, said: “I’m delighted to have been one of the first care workers in the care home and within the Borders to be given the opportunity to take the vaccine.

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“Although I felt a bit anxious about the vaccine, it was something I felt I wanted to do, to help protect myself and others.”

Director of nursing and operations at NHS Borders, and executive lead for the Covid-19 vaccine programme, Nicky Berry, said: “Following a successful start to our Covid-19 vaccination programme last week, during which a number of health and care staff received their first dose, we are delighted that we are now in a position to commence vaccinating in care homes.

“In order to minimise wastage of this precious vaccine it was important that we waited for confirmation of how the vaccine could be safely transported before making final preparations for the roll-out of this stage of the programme.

“It is a really positive step forward to now be in a position to start protecting the most vulnerable people in our community.”

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Chief operating officer for Adult Social Work and Social Care, Jen Holland, added: “This is a significant step in delivering the vaccine to some of our most vulnerable residents in care homes across the Borders.

“The vaccination programme is a huge undertaking which has seen a tremendous amount of planning from many health and social care colleagues that must be recognised and praised.”