Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine being given to priority groups as Hartlepool's hospital trust made accredited vaccination site

Staff and patients of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are now being given the jab from a special hub at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton.

They are being prioritised according to existing health issues, their age, ethnicity and job role.

The trust is also working with local care homes to help vaccinate its workers.

Medical director, Deepak Dwarakanath, said the vaccine offers hope after staff’s most challenging year ever.

He said: “This is a truly ground-breaking moment for the organisation and for the health service in this country.

“We feel privileged to be an accredited vaccination site and to be able to protect our staff, our patients and staff from our local care homes who we work with so closely across the Tees Valley.

“This vaccine gives us all the hope that we can protect the most vulnerable, ourselves and our loved ones and reduce pressure on our services.”

Frontline worker Dolon Basu, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, was one of the first staff to be protected.

She said: “This is the best Christmas present ever and I am hoping that by taking the vaccine voluntarily we will be able to beat Covid-19 altogether.

“As doctors it is our duty to protect ourselves and our patients. My simple message to all is – please take the vaccine to protect yourself, your patients and your family members.”

Nurse Norma Robinson, aged 68, who has a chest condition and has been forced to work from for a large period, added: “To not be able to do what I am passionate about and directly care for my patients – to touch and hug them and help them get better – has been so difficult.

“I am so relieved and pleased to soon be able to return to doing what I love most.”

Gary Wright, deputy chief people officer, said: “We are delighted to have the vaccine centre set up on site in the organisation.

"It is already allowing us to protect so many staff and patients, as well as our community partners in care homes across the Tees Valley."

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