84-year-old calls coronavirus vaccine the "best present I've ever had"
Sheila Page has become the first person in East Yorkshire to get it
Last updated 9th Dec 2020
An 84-year-old woman has become the first person to receive the approved coronavirus vaccine in East Yorkshire, after being given the jab at Castle Hill Hospital.
Sheila Page says she "couldn't wait" to get it and told reporters she felt brilliant after getting the injection.
Sheila said the jab is one of "the best presents" she's ever had. She's now encouraging other people to get it.
"I never felt a thing," Sheila said. "It didn't even bleed."
The vaccination hub will be running five days a week until Christmas and then seven days a week in the new year. The vaccine is being delivered by an injection in the shoulder but it has to be stored at -70C before being defrosted to be used.
Kristy Costa was the first to give Sheila the Pfizor jab, she said: “It was a relief just to get going really because it's something we’ve been planning for weeks and we are really eager just to get going, get our patients in and get them vaccinated.”
It comes a day after the very first batches were administered to people across the UK, including 90-year-old grandmother Margaret Keenan, who became the first to get the approved jab.
But NHS England have confirmed two members of NHS staff have had an allergic reaction to their doses, prompting a warning to those with severe allergies.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says anyone who has had a "significant" reaction to food, medicines or vaccines in the past should not get it.
The NHS in England said all trusts involved with the vaccination programme have been informed.
It means anyone getting the jab at Castle Hill hospital today will be asked about their history of allergic reactions.
Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said: "As is common with new vaccines, the MHRA have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday.
"Both are recovering well.''
The MHRA advice states: "Any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food (such as previous history of anaphylactoid reaction or those who have been advised to carry an adrenaline auto-injector) should not receive the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine.
"Resuscitation facilities should be available at all times for all vaccinations. Vaccination should only be carried out in facilities where resuscitation measures are available.''
They developed symptoms of "anaphylactoid reaction'' shortly after receiving the vaccine, but both recovered after the appropriate treatment.
Pfizer said the vaccine was "well tolerated'' during the trials with "no serious safety concerns''.
A spokeswoman said: "We have been advised by MHRA of two yellow card reports that may be associated with allergic reaction due to administration of the Covid-19 BNT162b2 vaccine.
"As a precautionary measure, the MHRA has issued temporary guidance to the NHS while it conducts an investigation in order to fully understand each case and its causes.
"Pfizer and BioNTech are supporting the MHRA in the investigation."