Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hit a crucial moment in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, as over 10,000 care homes have been offered a jab already, with more expected in the coming weeks.
The Lincolnshire Care Association has expressed delight at the milestone.
“We’re incredibly grateful to all of the NHS and social care staff who made this ambitious rollout – the largest in NHS history – a reality, and we look forward to further priority groups receiving their own vaccines in the near future,” said Melanie Weatherley MBE, chair of the association.
So far, nearly 9 million people have received their first dose of either the Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Four out of five people aged over 80 have also had their first dose.
It’s hoped that 15 million Britons will be vaccinated by 15 February.
Alex Hornby, a part-time carer and full-time journalism student at the University of Lincoln, is excited to see the positive effects of the vaccine in care homes.
“The risk of bad things happening takes a nosedive which is exactly what we want. It’s that double whammy of protection,” he said.
Mr Hornby has already been vaccinated, joining scores of nurses, GPs and other NHS staff in the first four phases of the Government’s programme.
He said vaccinations will also help to bring back the normality and socialisation that care homes have been missing since the original lockdown was announced in March 2020.
“Getting this vaccine is incredibly important for them because it means getting back to normal faster,” he said.
However, whilst the vaccination programme continues, people are still expected to stick to Government guidelines.
Ms Weatherley from the care association has reminded those in Lincoln to remain aware of the vulnerable, remembering the key Government rule, “hands, face, space”, to keep Lincolnshire’s older and most vulnerable safe.