Southsea care home residents 'happy' to receive Oxford Covid vaccine

More than half the residents at the St Ronans Residential and Nursing Home in Southsea were given their first dose of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine on Friday.

As reported, every care home in Portsmouth has been offered their first jab but some - including St Ronans - were delayed as either staff or residents tested positive for Covid this month.

Business manager Sarah Adams said it provided hope for staff and residents.

She said: 'This has been a fabulous day - this vaccine represents the start of some shoots of hope. Our residents have been so pleased to see the nurses from the practice today and get their shots – it’s really felt very special.

'We know this is not a silver bullet and there’s still a long way to go for us all – including keeping up with all the Covid measures we have in place until we know we’re safe.’

91-year-old Hannelore Samways was among those to get the jab. 'I am very happy today,' she said.

Colin Shill, 75, agreed. He said: 'I am happy I’ve had it as it keeps me safe.'

And 88-year-old Pamela Short added: 'I am very happy I have had the vaccine, and I’m still standing.'

A total of 17 residents, out of the 31 at the home, were given their jabs with the rest booked to have theirs in February.

It comes as figures from the Care Quality Commission showed Covid related deaths in Hampshire care homes had almost doubled in a week with 61 recorded across the county between January 9 and 15, and 36 in the eight days before then.

SEE ALSO: 668 Covid deaths recorded at QA Hospital

Councillor Matthew Winnington, Portsmouth council’s health boss, said: ‘It's great to see the vaccine rollout progressing and that those most at risk, which of course includes care home residents and staff, have all been offered it.

‘The threat is not over, however, and we remain vigilant on infection control in council-run homes and in our work with private care homes to protect care home residents and staff.’

Staff at St Ronans have been receiving vaccines from the hub at Queen Alexandra Hospital.

The News and its sister titles have been campaigning for high street pharmacies to be included in the vaccine roll-out. Our Shot in the Arm campaign acknowledges the progress that has been made but we are calling for access to jabs to be within 10 minutes of everyone's home, not 10 miles as the government has suggested.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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