Watch moment 101-year-old army veteran becomes first patient to receive coronavirus vaccine in Derbyshire surgery

On Friday morning, Stubley Medical Centre in Dronfield became the first GP surgery in the county to begin vaccinating patients against Covid-19.

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After an indescribably difficult year, there were smiles and tears of joy as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was injected into scores of arms – offering hope for the future.

First up for the jab was 101-year-old army veteran Robert Stopford-Taylor, of Dronfield.

After getting the vaccine, the great-great grandfather said: “This is a wonderful early Christmas present – I’m so very grateful to the NHS.

“It was painless and I didn’t feel a thing.

“I’ll be able to go out jogging soon!,” he laughed.

Robert added: “I’m a big believer in vaccinations.

“I served with the army in the Middle East between 1940 and 1945 and I had many vaccinations which protected me against various things.

“This vaccine will protect me against Covid-19 – and I urge people to have it when it is their turn.”

Lead nurse Sue Hewitt, who administered the vaccine, said it was ‘emotional’.

“After a heartbreaking 2020, it’s wonderful that we are now able to offer this life-saving vaccine,” she added.

Ann Alison, 84, of Dronfield, was one of the first people to receive the jab at Stubley Medical Centre.

She said: “I’m looking forward to being able to see my new great-grandson, who was born in February.”

Anthony Carr, 81, of Dronfield, added: “Everyone ought to have this vaccine if they can.”

Dr Miles Davidson, senior partner at Stubley Medical Centre, described Friday as a ‘watershed moment in our efforts to protect patients from this virus’.

The UK aims to inoculate tens of millions of people with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within months.

Reviews on the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines are currently underway.

Vaccinations are initially being provided for those aged 80 and over as well as healthcare workers and people living in care homes.

Residents across Derbyshire should wait to be contacted about their vaccination – they do not need to visit or contact their GP about the jab.

Church Farm Primary Care Centre in Ripley will conduct its first vaccinations on Saturday morning.

Dr Steve Lloyd, medical director of the Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said more vaccination sites will open locally ‘soon’.

He added: “Staff are working incredibly hard to get these sites set up and are doing an astonishing job to mount the greatest vaccination programme in NHS history.

“We ask that people continue to be patient and wait for the NHS to contact them about a vaccination.

He said the vaccine is safe and added: “After what has been an incredibly tough year, we are now starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel."

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is given as two injections, 21 days apart, with the second dose being a booster.

Immunity begins to kick in after the first dose but reaches its full effect seven days after the second dose.

Dr Lloyd added: “My strong advice is get the vaccine so you don’t get the virus.”

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