It was a landmark day for the island today (Monday) as careworker Sandie Hannay became the first person to receive the Pfizer Covid vaccine.

Over the next six to eight weeks, some 4,500 DHSC and private sector health and care staff will receive the jab.

A total of 325 vaccinations a day over three days this week will be given in a hub created in the former Covid ward, ward 20, at Newlands on the Noble’s Hospital site.

Sandie Hannay, 55, who works as a senior residential support officer in the Learning Disability service, was the first member of DHSC staff to register for and receive the jab.

She said she was ’excited’ to be the first in a programme that she said provides light at the end of the tunnel:

’It’s the biggest light I’ve ever seen,’ she said.

’’I work with adults with learning difficulties and to protect them and the community I think everybody should be stepping up and getting the vaccine.’

Sandie will be getting the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 25.

The island currently has six trays of the Pfizer vaccine, kept in deep freeze at an undisclosed location.

Further deliveries are due.

Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford said the first batch of Oxford vaccine has also been ordered but he doesn’t have a delivery date yet.

The 4,500 registered for the first phase of the vaccine roll-out include 3,500 DHSC health workers and 1,000 workers in government and private sector care homes.

The vaccination programme will continue to expand in the next few weeks to include health and care home residents and the over-80s, in line with the latest UK advice and as vaccine stocks allow.