Royal Preston Hospital gives first Covid vaccinations in momentous ‘turning point’ in battle against the pandemic

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the first hospitals in the country to receive the Covid-19 vaccine and we have now started to vaccinate the most vulnerable in our communities.

The Trust has set up its vaccination hub in the Education Centre at Royal Preston Hospital.

We administered our first vaccine to 81 year old Doreen McKeown at 7:20am this morning making her one of the first people in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Doreen is one of our volunteers so we are delighted to give something back to someone who gives us so much.

The NHS in England is beginning the biggest and most highly anticipated immunisation campaign in history at 50 hospital hubs this week, with more starting vaccinations over the coming weeks and months as the programme ramps up.

NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens has today praised the efforts of hardworking staff for making the roll out of a Covid-19 vaccine possible, saying that the deployment marks a “decisive turning point” in the battle against the pandemic.

Since the Pfizer vaccine got the green light from regulators last week, health service staff have been working around the clock to manage the huge scale logistical challenge of deploying the vaccine.

Dr Geraldine Skailes, Medical Director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This is an incredible moment for the NHS. This vaccine, which has been developed in record time, has given us a real opportunity to initially vaccinate our most vulnerable members of society and those who are caring for them.

I’d like to personally thank our staff members who have worked around the clock in preparation for the vaccine delivery as well as our partners at Lancashire County Council, the Central Lancashire CCGs, care home managers and many more who are collectively giving patients the best Christmas present they could have hoped for. ”

Dr Amanda Doyle OBE, Chief Officer for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System, said:

“Local teams are working hard to put arrangements in place to allow us to start protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities. Being prepared for a vaccine involves a wide range of organisations. We’d like to thank our partners who are supporting this on a local basis including NHS, Lancashire County Council, Cumbria County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council, our district councils, the military, police and many more.”

People aged 80 and over as well as care home workers will be first to receive the jab this week, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk.