RESIDENTS at Belong Warrington are among the first care home residents in the town to receive their coronavirus vaccinations.

This follows a visit from staff at Stockton Heath Medical Centre to administer the first doses earlier this week.

As part of the Government’s Covid-19 vaccination rollout, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is now being deployed to protect the country’s most vulnerable people.

This includes older people, those living with dementia and their carers at the Latchford care village who come under the ‘group one’ priority category of the vaccination programme.

A number of staff at the Loushers Lane site also received their initial doses, with more planned in the coming days and weeks.

Among the first residents to receive their jab was 83-year-old Dorothy Pemberton.

She said: “We were really excited to hear the medical team would be coming in to Belong, and it is great to be starting the new year knowing we are at reduced risk.

Warrington Guardian: Lewis Smith, support worker at Belong Warrington, is vaccinated by Xiurong Deng, practice nurse at Stockton Heath Medical CentreLewis Smith, support worker at Belong Warrington, is vaccinated by Xiurong Deng, practice nurse at Stockton Heath Medical Centre

“It felt fine – it was just like having the flu jab. The support we have received throughout the pandemic has been first class.”

Claire Bibby, general manager at Belong Warrington, added: “We are delighted that all of our residents have received their Covid-19 vaccinations this week.

“This is the added protection we have long been waiting for and we are pleased to say there are currently zero Covid-19 cases among our residents.

“We are also grateful to Stockton Heath Medical Centre for their help and sensitivity while working with those in our care.”

Since the start of the pandemic, Belong has taken a number of precautionary steps to keep its community of seven north west care villages and home care services Covid-safe.

This includes following strict infection prevention and control guidelines and implementing safety measures such as deep cleaning and the provision of PPE.

In addition to this, the dementia care specialist has developed a Covid-19 guide which offers tips ranging from nutrition and activity ideas to ways of maintaining exercise and social interaction for older people while restricted to their homes.