First Scottish care home resident receives coronavirus vaccine

A 90-year-old former care worker has become the first care home resident in Scotland to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Annie Innes was immunised at Abercorn House Care Home where she has been living for the past six months and had previously worked as a care worker at the home for more than 14 years.

Staff from NHS Lanarkshire administered vaccines to 52 residents as the roll-out of the vaccination programme continued.

Ms Innes said: “It’s wonderful to get the vaccine just before Christmas. "I hope it keeps me, my friends here and the staff safe and means we can get back to normal very soon."

She added: "The nurses and the care home staff have been great with us and we are relieved to have been offered the vaccine."

Second to receive her first dose at the care home was former bartender 82-year-old Margaret Keating who has been a resident at Abercorn House for just over a year.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman thanked everyone involved in the vaccine programme.

"It has been a challenge to get the Pfizer vaccine into care homes because of transport and storage requirements but I am delighted to see Mrs Innes become the first care home resident to receive her vaccine and I wish her many more years of good health," she said.

"Throughout the pandemic our priority has been to save lives and keep people safe. Vaccines give us a vital additional layer of protection we haven't had until now."

Residents and members of staff at Abercorn House will receive a second dose of the vaccine in the new year.

‘I'd urge all eligible care home residents and staff to take-up the vaccine to protect themselves’

Nurse director Trudi Marshall, who is managing the care home vaccination programme across the whole of Lanarkshire said: “This programme represents the biggest logistical challenges Lanarkshire, and the country, has ever faced.

“It’s important to recognise just how much work our staff have put in to the process in such a short time. Care home staff and managers also deserve praise for their fantastic co-operation and help.

“We have a detailed vaccination plan in place which we are communicating to care homes. While this is a very quick moving and complex operation, we’re dedicated to ensuring they are prepared for our visits and resident and staff have consented to receiving the vaccination.

“I’d urge all eligible care home residents and staff to take-up the vaccine to protect themselves and others. I fully understand we’re all eager to get vaccinated, however I’d call for people across Lanarkshire to please be patient as we work through priority groups.”

A further 2,990 care home residents and 5,601 staff will be vaccinated across 93 care homes in Lanarkshire.

click here for more details or to contact Abercorn House Care Home