Northampton General Hospital workers share how they feel after receiving Pfizer injection

The head of pathology at Northampton General Hospital has said having the world-first vaccination against coronavirus is a "no-brainer" after what Covid-19 "has done to human beings".

Gus Lusack, who has been working at Northampton General Hospital since 2006, said he was one of the first three people to take the vaccine at the Northampton hospital hub on Tuesday.

He told the Chronicle & Echo today: "Initially, like most people, I was sceptical because it's new and the vaccine is made from a new platform, it's an RNA vaccine as opposed to the conventional way vaccines have been made in the past.

"I went onto the MHRA website, and, of course, they are the UK regulation body for medicines and I was convinced going there that the vaccine was very safe, it had been well prepared and it was a good idea to take it.

"I came and took it and, as they say, the rest is history."

After having the vaccination administered to his upper arm, Mr Lusack compared the sensation similar to having the flu jab.

"I had a slight headache, which vanished after taking two paracetamols but otherwise I had no problems," he added.

"I think it's really important to take the vaccine because I don't think anyone needs reminding what Covid has done to human beings and to the economy.

"If you think about all the damage coronavirus has caused I think we should all be running to have it.

"It's free and it's being given to everyone, it's not going to rich people who can only have it, it's available to all of us.

"It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from you can go and get it, I think it's a no-brainer.

"The best way I think to deal with conspiracy theorists is to look at 'who is saying it? Who is theorising it'?

"If this person if a qualified medical expert, then maybe you could take it seriously. So many people's opinions masquerade as facts."

The vaccination team at NGH are initially vaccinating the over-80s who already have an in-patient appointment booked, as well as care home workers and healthcare workers who are at highest risk of serious illness from Covid-19. All those who have been vaccinated will need a booster dose 21 days later.

Travel office manager Nicky Jones-Penny was given Pfizer vaccine at the town's hospital today (Thursday) after it got the green light from regulators last week.

Nicky Jones-Penny said: "There was a bit of apprehension this morning, it's like that feeling you get when you start the first day on the job.

"I think it's because it's new and it's the unknown but the actual procedure and having it done was absolutely fine, it's no different to having your flu jab - it's painless.

"I've had it done so I know that I'm protected and I take certain medication, which lowers my immune system anyway so to have that extra piece of mind behind me makes me feel better."

The hospital has been planning for six weeks when staff understood a vaccine was close to being approved by the MHRA.

A "pizza box" delivery arrives at the hospital with 975 doses that has to be used in five days. Over 100 members of staff were given jabs on day one it's expected 300 people will have the jab by the end of Thursday (today).

Vicky O'Neill is supervising practitioner for Area K vaccinations where the over-80s are being given the jab, and, on Wednesday, her team made up of first responders administered 73 vaccinations.

She said: "There were lots of rounds of applause yesterday for the first, second and third patients going through and it was very exciting, especially for the care home staff because they feel that they are making their patients at risk by going back forth to work so they feel really good that they are going to protect them that bit more."

Rachel Westwood, acting chief pharmacist, added that the vaccine has gone through all the right processes and is available at a faster rate because it has not had to wait for funding, clinical trial patients and has avoided usual bureaucratic processes.

"We are really lucky in the UK that we have robust health scrutiny with the MHRA so I feel very confident that it has gone through all of the processes and really we are trying to encourage people to understand that and help them because it's quite daunting. We've had great advocates who have had their injections here and have felt fine afterwards and maybe they have been doubtful to start with but have done a bit of reading about it to understand."