'Emotional' Northampton care home manager ‘honoured' to be part of Covid-19 vaccine roll-out

A care home manager has revealed she feels a 'weight off her shoulders' as her home has been chosen as part of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out.

Templemore Care Home in Harlestone Road is one of three residential homes for the elderly in Northamptonshire to be taking part in the first stage of the local Pfzier vaccine roll-out for care home workers.

Eight members of staff from the Dallington home received the injection at Northampton General Hospital on Wednesday (December 9).

More colleagues also attended the hospital on Thursday (December 10) and Friday (December 11) to get the first dose of the vaccine and more colleagues can be booked in for other dates.

Over 80s and some NHS workers in the county have also been receiving the jab at the hospital since Tuesday (December 8).

The care home manager, Teresa Warren, who got the vaccine on Wednesday said all the staff were ‘lovely’ and being part of the roll-out is a ‘privilege'.

Teresa said: “It’s a lovely honour to do it, especially as it will hopefully help us all to stay safe.

“I felt quite emotional about it as it’s such a privilege.

“As the manager, I felt if I went to get the vaccine, hopefully staff will see there is nothing to worry about.

“They can see I’m still walking and surviving.

“It really feels like a big weight off my shoulders.

“Relatives were very wary and worried about Covid coming into the home and it’s been such a hard and emotional time, so it has been great to be offered the vaccine.

“It gives relatives some reassurance and it means, eventually, we will all be safe and will be able to completely protect the residents from Covid.

“I just can’t express how great and wonderful that feeling is.”

Currently the vaccine is only available for over 80s, some health care workers and those who work in care homes.

Those eligible for the vaccine will be contacted and should not contact the health service to ask for an appointment.

A spokeswoman for Northampton General Hospital said: “When it is the right time people will receive an invitation to come forward.

“At first we will be contacting people by telephone but for most it will be by letter, either from their GP or the national NHS.

“This letter will include all the information you will need to book appointments, including your NHS number.

“Please do not contact the NHS to get an appointment until you get this letter.”

More information on the vaccine is available on the NHS website.

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