Coronavirus vaccine: First care home residents in NI receive Covid jab

The first care home residents have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

Twenty-five men and women from Palmerston residential home in east Belfast were vaccinated on Tuesday morning.

Thirty-five members of staff are in the process of getting the jab.

Earlier on Tuesday, the first Covid-19 vaccination in Northern Ireland was administered.

Sister Joanna Sloan - who will head up the vaccine roll out in Belfast - received the jab just after 08:00 GMT at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

The roll out involves 70 hospital hubs across the UK which are gearing up to provide the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.

On Tuesday, the Belfast Trust confirmed to BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme that 250 people had received the vaccination in Northern Ireland.

Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, became the first person in the world to get the jab as part of a mass vaccination programme,

She is originally from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh and called the vaccination the "best early birthday present".

Palmerston is a purpose built dementia care home providing 24 hour care to older people in East Belfast.

As well as the residents, 35 members of staff are in the process of getting the jab.

Speaking to BBC News NI, home manager Paul Johnston said it had been a "good day".

The home had outbreaks of the virus in October but is now virus-free.

Mr Johnston, who also was vaccinated, said it was only yesterday that he received the call from the Belfast Health Trust to arrange the vaccinations but was delighted and relieved to be able to protect the residents.

"We had to gain consent from the families - it has been full on but we are getting there," he said.

"Really it has been no different from administering the flu jab. It wasn't painful at all and so far so good with all the residents."

The Department of Health recorded 14 further deaths linked to Covid-19 on Tuesday, taking its total death toll to 1,073.

It also confirmed 351 new positive cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in Northern Ireland to 55,795.

In the Republic of Ireland, there was one further death linked to coronavirus reported, with 2,097 people having died in total.

There were also 215 further confirmed cases of the virus, meaning there have been 74,682 cases recorded in the country since the pandemic began.

The first recipient of the vaccine in Northern Ireland, Ms Sloan, will manage the Belfast Trust's vaccination centre.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, she said she felt emotional and proud to be part of history.

Meanwhile, a 90-year-old woman from Northern Ireland became the first person in the world to receive the vaccine outside trial conditions.

Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, said it was the "best early birthday present".

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is one of a number that have been developed so far, with Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna seeking approval for their vaccines.

Health Minister Robin Swann hailed the vaccination rollout as a "game changer".

Mr Swann warned that distribution of the vaccine would be a massive logistical challenge - particularly in care homes, which will require 12,000 doses - but he said those in care homes would start to receive the vaccine soon.

The vaccine must be stored at about -70C and needs to be transported in special boxes, packed in dry ice.

Once delivered, it can be kept for up to five days in a fridge.

Stocks of the vaccine were transported to Northern Ireland via the Republic of Ireland, having arrived into Dublin port from Holyhead.

They are being kept at an undisclosed central storage facility operated by a private company.

Dr Alan Stout, chairman of Northern Ireland's GP committee, warned the vaccine rollout did not symbolise the end of the pandemic.

"It is so important that people still follow the rules and follow the guidance," he told BBC Radio Foyle.

More than 600 volunteer vaccinators across Northern Ireland will be given the injection this week, ahead of the biggest inoculation programme in UK history.

The UK will be the first country in the world to start using the Pfizer vaccine after regulators approved its use last week. About 25,000 doses were delivered to Northern Ireland last Friday.

Vaccination will not be compulsory. Ministers have warned it could be Easter by the time restrictions are lifted in a significant way.

The vaccine will be rolled out at seven sites across Northern Ireland:

•Belfast Trust - Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

•South Eastern Trust - Ulster Hospital, Dundonald

•Southern Trust - South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon

•Northern Trust - Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena

•Western Trust - Foyle Arena, Londonderry, Omagh Leisure Centre and Lakeside Leisure Centre, Enniskillen.