Sheffield has reached a historic milestone as 130,000 people have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Farana Akhtar, who got the vaccine at her local mosque on the day it became a vaccination clinic, said: “I had my vaccine at a pop-up clinic in my local mosque and I’m so glad that I did. I’ve had the virus, and it’s scary because you are worried that your health will worsen at any moment and you will end up in the hospital.
“I did have side effects from the vaccination but not everyone does. I was achy and shivery for about 24 hours but it’s nothing compared to being ill with the virus.”
She was in one of the four priority groups of people to receive the vaccination. This included people over 70 years old, notably medically vulnerable people, older adult care home residents and front line health workers.
Michael Lewis, a medical student at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am very grateful to have received the vaccine so soon. I volunteer at a local hospital, but also live in student halls where the covid clusters are abundant, and the thought that I might be asymptomatic between covid tests and unknowingly spreading the virus was terrifying.”
NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and GP practices worked together to establish 15 community vaccination centres across the city.
Alun Windle, Chief Nurse and Covid Vaccination Lead at NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “All of our efforts have gone into protecting those who are most vulnerable to becoming seriously ill from the virus and our frontline health and social care staff.
“We are so pleased that we have been able to vaccinate so many people in a matter of weeks. Thank you to the hard work of everyone involved and our primary care networks who have worked tirelessly to vaccinate patients.”
People from the next two priority groups, people in the 65 to 69 age group, and people aged 16 to 64 with an underlying health condition, will be offered the covid jab from this week.
Alun Windle added: “If you are invited for a vaccine, it’s really important that you take up the offer.
“If you have yet to have the vaccine or have changed your mind and you are over 70, clinically extremely vulnerable or a frontline health and social care worker, you can now book a vaccination appointment online, there is no need to wait to be contacted.”
People can book a vaccine if they are in any of the priority groups by registering online https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ or calling 119.
