“I’d be stupid not to have it” – patients react to being among lucky first ones to receive Covid-19 vaccine at King’s College and Princess Royal hospitals

Vaccinations rolled out to hospital trusts with King’s College Hospital in Camberwell and the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) in Orpington gave jabs to their first beneficiaries yesterday.

Kenneth Coley, 98, and Ann Russell, 80, were among the first patients to receive the Covid-19 jab on the first day of the roll out.

Kenneth was the first patient at King’s College Hospital to receive the vaccine.

He said: “I’m very fortunate to have been chosen to have the vaccine. I thought I was too old. If you want to fight the virus you have to get vaccinated.”

Asked whether he was nervous, he said, “No. I’d be stupid not to have it.”

Kenneth was given a round of applause by ward staff after receiving the first dose of the vaccine. He will have the second dose in 21 days’ time.

Ann, from Bromley, was the first patient at PRUH to be vaccinated. Ann said: “I was very happy to be vaccinated. Seeing me get it might just encourage others to get it, too.

“Hopefully, the vaccine will make life better for all of us.”

King’s chief executive Professor Clive Kay said, “On this remarkable day for the NHS, we are incredibly proud to have begun vaccinating our first patients against Covid-19.

“I would like to thank our staff for their tremendous work, both to enable the roll out of the vaccination programme in such a space of time, and throughout the year to care for our patients.”

King’s College Hospital and the Princess Royal University Hospital are among 50 hubs in England that have been designated to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine.

Among the first group of people to be vaccinated are patients aged 80 and over.

This includes those attending the hospital as outpatients, and inpatients who are soon to be discharged after a hospital stay.

Pictured top: Ann Russell, with the card showing she has had the vaccine