Portsmouth mass vaccination centre in St James' Hospital offers 'a taste of freedom' as first jab is administered

Portchester resident Peter Missing, 72, became the first person to be vaccinated at St James’ Hospital, an NHS Solent site, in Milton this morning.

Peter is the first of more than 1,000 patients that staff plan to see every day – vaccinating an individual every eight minutes.

He said: ‘It’s gone pretty well - it’s well organised.

‘It’s a huge relief, I’ve had to keep pretty well away from everyone over the last 10 months.

‘I’ve had to cancel a few holidays. My wife and I were due to go on a cruise around the Baltic in June.’

The grandfather of 10 added: ‘And I’m looking forward to seeing my family. I miss my grandkids more than anything. I last saw them in February.’

Regarding the vaccine, he said: ‘I can’t encourage people to get it enough - let’s get it done. It’s strange - I was a little bit nervous getting it done. I think it was the feeling of relief.’

Quick and painless was how 72-year-old Christine Smith from North End characterised the process.

She said: ‘I wondered if the doctor had done it. I didn’t feel a thing.

‘It is like a taste of freedom, it’s like being released from prison. But we still need to stick to the rules.

The former community nurse of 30 years added: ‘I just wish I was younger and could help.’

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The sense of cautious relief was echoed by patients across the morning – with some cheering after doctors administered the first dose of the long-awaited drug.

Among them were Diane and David Senior from Cosham, who said it felt ‘very, very good’ to begin the vaccination process a year of their lives ‘missed’ lives due to the virus.

74-year-old Diane said: ‘We had a small family wedding in August, when my granddaughter got married. That was the last time I saw my grandchildren.

‘I miss them so much.

‘So I couldn’t wait to have the jab done. I’ve been so worried about making it through the year.’

After almost two months transforming the mental health unit into a vaccination centre, the site is expected to be at full capacity across its first week of appointments – an ‘amazing’ feeling for Stephanie Clark, operational manager for the vaccine roll-out across Portsmouth.

The senior nurse said: ‘It’s been the most challenging 12 months of my career. But I have found the teams have really pulled together, and we are confident about our supplies.

‘It’s the result of a lot of hard work coming together. It feels amazing to see it in operation.

‘The rollercoaster of emotion has been there for everyone.’

St James’ Hospital will have 90 staff on site, administering vaccines from 8am to 8pm.

Residents will be contacted by the their GP or the NHS to be offered an appointment slot.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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