First Wigan residents share their experiences of receiving the coronavirus vaccine

The first Wigan residents to receive the coronavirus vaccine have been sharing their experiences, as the country begins the third national lockdown.
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The roll-out of the jab began in mid-December, when NHS Wigan Borough CCG announced a man identified only as Mr Ashurst had been vaccinated at Robin Park Leisure Centre.

Further vaccination clinics have since been held in both Wigan and Leigh, with the elderly and healthcare workers among the first to be protected.

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Some of those who have received the injection so far have shared their experiences on the Wigan Today Facebook page.

Vaccinations in Wigan began in mid-DecemberVaccinations in Wigan began in mid-December
Vaccinations in Wigan began in mid-December

Dave McMahon said: “My dad (88) got the call and went down to Robin Park the week before Christmas. He said there was a long (thankfully socially distanced) queue outside in bitterly cold rain. With a wait of 30 mins or so, he said he was a bit worried for some of the other patients, but the process itself was trouble free and he’s had no ill effects since. After being told last week that the initial three-week wait for the booster was going to be extended, he got another call yesterday to say it’s been brought forward again. Mum (80) still yet to hear anything, but as she suffers from various allergies she is concerned about the Pfizer vaccine.”

Alex Fairhurst said: “Had first on December 10 and had my second today. Achy arm after the first, couldn’t fault the process and organisation.”

Sharon Marie said: “Had mine on the 24th as work for the NHS. No side effects. Daughter and husband, plus several other members of my bubble, caught Covid around 26th Dec. So far, I have not been affected.”

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Caron Wild said: “Had mine on Saturday. Didn’t feel it at all. Bit of a dead arm but fine after.”

Heather Chance Tuck said: “Had mine last week. Stung a bit but had no side effects or owt.”

Dorothy Cooper said: “Due my second one on Friday. I’m 83. At Leigh Sports Centre. No problems whatsoever.”

Ian Thomson said: “Had mine. Felt fine. No problem. Bit of a dead arm, but no different to the flu jab.”

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One woman said: “I’m a nurse, I’ve had the first Pfizer vaccine. I got a phone call from WWL to go in the day after to have the vaccine which I attended. Very little side effects, just a dead arm and not being able to lift arm higher than shoulder for two days (which the flu vaccine does) and a slight temp the night I had the vaccine, but other than that I’m great.”

More than a million people have received their first coronavirus vaccination, with the first Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs being rolled out on Monday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “with a fair wind in our sails” it should be possible to vaccinate 13 million of the most vulnerable people by mid-February, paving the way for the national lockdown to be eased.

Top of the priority list are people who live and work in care homes, followed by people over the age of 80 and frontline health and social care workers, including NHS staff.

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Next on the list are people over the age of 75, and the fourth group are people aged 70 and those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.

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