After months of lockdown restrictions, some married couples are sick of the sight of each other.
But the Hugheses won’t be getting sick from Covid – after they both received the Pfizer vaccine yesterday.
Maureen, 84, and Gerry, 81, are believed to be the first people to receive the vaccine in a GP surgery.
It might sting: Maureen, 84, and Gerry, 81, Hughes at their surgery in Halesowen in the West Midlands for the Covid-19 jabs yesterday
The next steps of the inoculation programme could see priority given to those in jobs which put them at greater risk of exposure – such as taxi drivers and security guards – following a report by a public health expert.
Given that the risk of being infected and killed by the virus is ‘unequal’, efforts to save lives should be focused on those put at highest risk, according to the report by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.
The University College London expert also highlighted the plights of patients from ethnic minorities and deprived areas.
After receiving her jab Mrs Hughes, a retired telephonist, said she hoped to be able to see family at Christmas, adding: ‘It means an awful lot. We’re just really excited.’
Mr Hughes, father of two and grandfather of three, said: ‘What they have achieved in bringing these vaccines to a surgery is fantastic.’
After receiving her jab in Halesowen in the West Midlands yesterday, Mrs Hughes, a retired telephonist, said she hoped to be able to see family at Christmas, adding: ‘It means an awful lot. We’re just really excited.’
Mr Hughes, a former manufacturing director, said: ‘What they have achieved in bringing these vaccines to a surgery is fantastic.’
The father of two and grandfather of three, from Hayley Green, added: ‘We have kept very disciplined and so have our family – if we have ever met earlier on, we have met in the garden.
‘We’ve stuck to all the rules and as a result of that we haven’t ended up with Covid.
‘We’ve got no problems with how we have been dealt with by the NHS – I can’t thank them enough, I think they have done extremely well.’
The next steps of the inoculation programme could see priority given to those in jobs which put them at greater risk of exposure – such as taxi drivers (stock image)
Former serviceman, car factory worker and chauffeur Stanley Davies, 91, was the third patient to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in Halesowen.
The former Longbridge assembly line worker told the PA news agency: ‘It was fine, no trouble at all.
‘I’ll have anything that’ll do my health good. I will be able to relax, I hope, and look forward to the next one (a second injection) and then perhaps leave this mask off.’
A consignment of the vaccine arrived at Feldon Lane Surgery, near Shell Corner, at 1.47pm.
The delivery from an undisclosed secure location elsewhere in the Midlands was among the first to family doctors across England.
A UCL public health expert, Professor Sir Michael Marmot, said efforts to save lives should be focused on those put at highest risk, such as security guards (stock image)
Halesowen GP partner Dr Mohit Mandiratta said: ‘It’s been such a difficult time for everybody over the last nine months and it’s great we’ve got a bit of light to get us out of the dark tunnel we’ve all been in.
‘But it is important people continue to follow the guidelines because we’re not out of the woods yet.
‘So it’s so important that over Christmas people follow the national guidelines and continue to protect themselves and each other as much as possible.’
Dr Gillian Love, clinical director of the Halesowen Primary Care Network, administered vaccinations to patients in Halesowen.
Dr Love said: ‘The vaccine is a fantastic opportunity to restore a degree of normality, for families and friends to reconnect, and for the country to get back on its feet.
‘I would encourage anyone offered the Covid-19 vaccine to step forward when asked to do so. This is our opportunity to protect ourselves and each other.’