Covid vaccinations at Leeds care home deliver fresh hope to residents and staff of Windsor Court

After so many months of isolation and worry about the dangers posed by coronavirus, there is now an overwhelming sense of hope that the day will come when families can return and grandchildren will be running around Windsor Court in Wetherby.

On the residents' response to the chance to be vaccinated, lifestyle manager Kirsty Watson said: "The residents weren't scared, they weren't hesitant - everybody wanted it. You could have cut the positivity with a knife.

"The main emotion I could sense from the residents, I would say, is anticipation and urgency. They knew what it meant for them. They know what's going on and they were just ready to have it. They can't wait to get the next one."

It comes as the Yorkshire Evening Post continues its A Shot in the Arm campaign focused on the national vaccination programme.

Run alongside sister titles across JPIMedia, it urges Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deploy the country’s network of 11,000 pharmacies to ensure that every citizen is only a short walk away from a vaccination centre.

Our campaign also requests further reassurance for local communities from the Government and more easy-to-access information on the vaccine programme and its progress.

While some Windsor Court staff had been able to get their first Pfizer/BioNTech jab at the Thackray Museum of Medicine last month, the visit by a vaccination team from Westgate Surgery in Otley on January 8 meant the 60 remaining staff and all residents have now done so as well.

Also in news: Where to get the details for your Covid vaccine booking and how to book an appointment

A number of staff were also able to receive their second dose to prevent spare jabs from that batch being thrown away, meaning home manager Paula Mountjoy became the first person in Wetherby to complete her course of vaccination.

"The registered nurses who came to complete the vaccinations have been amazing," she said. "We just can’t wait to feel safe in the knowledge that our residents are protected from this virus, as that has been the most important thing to us throughout."

The sense of gratitude and relief is one very much shared by residents, with many expressing their thanks to Westgate practice manager Helen Quiney and her colleagues for making it through the snow that day to reach them.

Resident Brian Green, who has lived at Windsor Court since May 2019, said: "I feel privileged to be one of the first to have the vaccine, it has been something that has been a long time coming, but I think patience is a virtue. I am very grateful to everyone at Windsor Court and to the lovely nurses from Westgate Surgery who distributed our jabs."

Miss Watson added: "I just can't wait to get my second and feel safer. Not for me, but the residents. I know I'll be fine but I hate the thought of being able to take it around to other people, to my Windsor Court family. I could never forgive myself.

"We really do feel like this is a big leap towards residents getting back to normality. We enjoy the families being here - they're a great help, they get involved and do the activities with us. I can't wait for that normality and this is the first step to getting there."

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