The NHS has become the first healthcare provider in the world to deliver a dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.
Dialysis patient Brian Pinker was given the dose at Oxford University Hospital by chief nurse Sam Foster. Mr Pinker, 82, a retired maintenance manager, has been having dialysis for kidney disease at the hospital for a number of years, and said he was pleased to be getting protection against the virus giving him peace of mind as he continues to receive treatment.
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‘It was a real privilege to be able to deliver the first Oxford Vaccine at the Churchill Hospital here in Oxford, just a few hundred metres from where it was developed,’ said Chief Nursing Officer of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sam Foster.
‘We look forward to vaccinating many more patients and health and care staff with the Oxford vaccine in the coming weeks which will make a huge difference to people living in the communities we serve and the staff who care for them in our hospitals.’
Hundreds of new vaccination sites are due to come onstream this week, joining the 700 which are already in operation. The first Oxford AstraZeneca vaccinations will be delivered at a small number of hospitals for the first few days for surveillance purposes, as is standard practice, before the bulk of supplies are send to hundreds of GP-led services later in the week.
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‘The NHS’ biggest vaccination programme in history is off to a strong start, thanks to the tremendous efforts of NHS staff who have already delivered more than one million jabs,’ said Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director.
‘Throughout the pandemic their response has been phenomenal from introducing world-leading treatments for coronavirus which have saved patients’ lives as well as delivering the very first COVID-19 vaccines outside of a trial in a landmark moment in history, and now rolling out the new Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, chalking up another world first that will protect thousands more over the coming weeks.’