A married couple who worked in the NHS for 80 years between them, received the new Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine today.
Penny and Victor Griffiths received their inoculations at Basildon University Hospital in Essex, where the couple worked from the 1960s onwards.
They received it on the second day of what's the biggest vaccination programme in the NHS' history.
On Tuesday, what was dubbed "V-day" by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the vaccines began to be distributed with 90-year-old Margaret Keenan being the first to ever receive the jab.
The vaccinations began with healthcare workers, people living in care homes where the virus continues to run rampant, and the elderly.
Mr Griffiths, 86, worked as a radiographer and his 80-year-old wife Penny, worked as a nurse.
The pair are looking forward to seeing their 13 grandchildren, who range from four, to 37, for the first time since March when the lockdown began in this country.
The Griffiths met at Connaught Hospital in 1963 and after a "whirldwind romance" were married after three months and have been ever since.
The couple say it's "really exciting" news about the vaccine and that they're "over the moon" about being amongst the first to receive it.
But they said watching the NHS fight the pandemic had been "devastating" and that the pandemic was "the worst thing we've ever known," adding that even their son had caught Covid-19.
Mr Griffiths said: "We're very excited about it because we have been doing the right thing, we've been self-isolating and trying not to mix in supermarkets and things like this... we're over the moon about it."
"It's really exciting that the vaccine is here now and hopefully we can get on with life now."
"It would be nice" Mrs Griffiths said, to be able to hug their grandchildren after they receive the second vaccine dose in January as they'd only been able to see them "through the window" and drop off sweets since the first lockdown begun on March 23rd.
Now that a vaccine is available, the next hurdle, alongside distributing it, is convincing those worried about it that it's safe.
To those worried Mr Griffiths said everyone should "have it done and get on with life."
He added, "Don't worry about it at all, because the worry is that you might catch coronavirus."
Life before Covid-19 for the pair, who are also ballroom dancing partners, was enjoying holidays, playing golf, and bowling and they are looking forward to getting back to their hobbies.
"Our zest for life doesn't diminish as you get older, but the anxieties about catching something or doing something that may stick a spanner in life... as far as I'm concerned both of us want to have it done and get on with life." He said.
