This is the historic moment a patient became the first in Nottingham to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Don Colley, 87, became Nottingham University Hospitals' first patient to be given the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at Queen's Medical Centre on Tuesday afternoon, December 8.
Speaking after receiving the vaccine on a momentous day, Don said: “I feel fine, it didn’t hurt.
“There’s nothing to worry about.
“My family don’t know about it yet.”
Asked if he has any advice for those worried about having the vaccine, he said: “Have it, I’ll show them the way”.
Don, of Porchester Road, Mapperley, said the first thing he’ll do when he leaves hospital is “have a drink of whiskey”.
The 87-year-old used to work for the NHS at Highbury hospital in the boiler room.
And Mr Colley follows in the footsteps of grandmother Margaret Keenan who was the first person in the world to get the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
When asked if this is the most exciting moment of his life, Don said : “definitely!”
Barbara Hinz, a receptionist at NUH, was fifth in line to receive the vaccine.
She said: “I feel fantastic, like I’ve just won the lottery.
“I jumped at the chance to have it because I’ve got a son who I’m shielding from who has leukaemia.
“He’s 48 and since he’s had chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, I haven’t seen him.
“He’s very excited for me. I’ve told him once I see him and hug him I won’t let him go!”
Barbara said the vaccine “felt just like a normal jab”.
She said she “jumped at the chance” to have it despite her fear of needles.
But she added: “We’ve still got to keep safe even though we’ve got the vaccine now”.
Nottingham University Hospitals was named as one of the first 50 hubs to take part in the vaccination programme.
The largest rollout of a vaccination programme in the country's history will continue over the coming weeks and months.
NUH has vaccinated 25 people today (December 8) and will continue the rollout from 8am to 6pm tomorrow (December 9)
On Tuesday, five hospital patients were vaccinated and the rest are members of staff.
Deputy chief nurse, Scott Purser, said: “It’s been amazing today.
“The way NUH has pulled together to deliver the vaccine has been really amazing. I’m very proud.
“It’s a long road to recovery and this is the first of months of vaccinations for Nottingham.
“But it is great to have started the journey. Don said to us, ‘get it over and done with’!”
Judith Palmer, Chief Pharmacist for the trust, said: “It’s been a privilege to be here today. An awful lot of work has gone into this and this makes it all worthwhile.
“But we’ve got to remember this is a marathon not a sprint.”
Laura Mitchell, Covid matron, is one of the members of staff giving out the first wave of vaccines.
Laura, who was redeployed to critical care in the first and second waves of the pandemic, said: “It’s really important to be part of this programme.
“It’s great to see this side of the process to protect thousands of people from this awful disease. It will be amazing.
“It’ll be life changing for multiple families who have been shielding for most of the year.”
Asked if she was nervous about giving the first wave of vaccines, Laura said: “I’m just quite excited.
“We’ve done a lot of work preparing for this, the training has been essential.”
Tom Evans, NUH Matron, delivered the first vaccine for the trust to Don Colley.
He said: “It’s really exciting, it’s an important step forwards.
“To be able to deliver the first vaccine is so important.
“It feels like an honour. It’s something none of us have seen in our lifetimes so to be involved is historic.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous!”
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