Emotional moment first Forth Valley hospital staff got COVID vaccine

By Allan Crow

Published 9th Dec 2020, 13:25 GMT

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The first staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital to get the COVID vaccine have hailed it as a major step in the fight to supress the virus.

Frontline health workers were given their first jab on Tuesday after the first batch was delivered to the Larbert hospital.

Hilary Nelson, ICU nurse, was the first to be vaccinated - and admitted it was an emotional moment.

She said: “It is really important. We have been looking after patients for the last year, and this will allow us to protect them.

Dorothy Bell, Head of Occupational Health gives the vaccine to Hilary Nelson, ICU critical care nurse (Pic: Michael Gillen)

Dorothy Bell, Head of Occupational Health gives the vaccine to Hilary Nelson, ICU critical care nurse (Pic: Michael Gillen)

“The vaccine also represents people who never got the chance to get this - nurses, and healthcare workers who sadly succumbed to this terrible virus.”

Hilary said she had complete faith in the new vaccination programme.

She added: “It was quite emotional to be booked in for first vaccination - I’m also booked in for January for the second one which is really important as it will give me the most efficacy of this vaccine.

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Steffani Beaton, Senior Vaccine Technician.({ic: Michael Gillen)

Steffani Beaton, Senior Vaccine Technician.({ic: Michael Gillen)

“I was happy to have it, I asked all the questions, and I have faith in my Forth Valley colleagues to have it done safely.”

The arrival of the vaccine was welcomed by staff across the hospital.

Dorothy Bell, occupational health services manager, said: “This is the thing that will help us move forward with the pandemic.

“It will help keep staff safe when looking after people who are ill.”

The first batch of vaccinations began UK-wide this week. Each person will need two injections spaced 20-28 days apart.

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