Co Down nurse first to receive covid jab in NI

The first person to receive the vaccine in Northern Ireland was a nurse who will play a key role in the vaccination programme at the country's main hospital.

Joanna Sloan, 28, is sister in charge of Covid vaccination for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland's largest.

She received the jab at the Royal Victoria Hospital in West Belfast on Tuesday morning.

She is from Dundrum in Co Down.

Ms Sloan is a former emergency department nurse and has been in her job for six years.

She is engaged but her wedding was postponed due to the pandemic.

She has a daughter aged five.