Covid survivor, 99, is vaccinated in New Mills care home

Speaking after receiving the first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, Ivy Dawson said she was very relieved.

"Being here is the next best thing to being at home and I hope the vaccine means we can soon move forward," she said.

Ivy, who will be 100 in October, came down with the virus in May but has now recovered.

She has lived at Goyt Valley House home for older people in New Mills for more than two years.

Cheryl Hudson, unit manager at the care home on Jubilee Street, said: : “We’re all so glad this day has arrived. It means so much to us, particularly the residents and their families.

“It’s been a very difficult time for everyone, but this is such a ray of hope for us all.”

Among other residents to get the vaccine was Jean Holt, 93, from The Leys, who has been at the Ashbourne care home for a year. Residents there received the first of their two Pfizer BioNTech vaccines on New Year’s Day.

Juanita Wheeldon, manager of The Leys, who was also vaccinated on the same day as residents, said: “I am extremely proud of my staff teams, who have shown the utmost commitment to caring for our residents throughout this pandemic, taking additional shifts, sacrificing leave and time spent with their families to provide care for our residents.

“It has been a difficult time for all and particularly for the families of our residents as all the care in the world does not replace the embrace of a loved one."Councillor Jean Wharmy, the county council’s cabinet member for adult care, said getting the vaccine was an enormous relief to everyone.“These are momentous times for our residents, who are among the most vulnerable in Derbyshire,” she said.“I hope this giant step will help bring a more normal way of life nearer and ensure we can be reunited with our loved ones as soon as we can.”

Care home residents are in the first priority group outlined by the Government which says it hopes to vaccinate all of them by the end of the month.