Today Mrs Freda France, a 90 year old from Sheffield was the first person to be given the Pfizer/BioNTech covid vaccine at a GP practice in the city. She had the first of her two Pfizer vaccines given by a practice nurse. Her second vaccine will be given in early January.

Mrs France, also known as the “First Lady of Shiregreen” is a well-loved local resident. She has lived in Sheffield all of her life and has lived in Shiregreen for over 50 years where she raised her three children. Freda has lived on her own for over 23 years since her husband died. 

She’s an incredibly proud Nannan to her two grandchildren Victoria and Harry, with the youngest Harry studying to be a doctor.

Mrs France said, “I'd say to anyone who is unsure about having the vaccination when they're offered it, just go for it. It's just like the flu jab - only a little prick! I'm glad I've had it, I'm 90 now and I'm hoping to make it to 100."

Three GP surgeries in the city will kick start the mass roll out of community vaccine on behalf of 18 neighbouring practices this week. People who are most at risk from the complications of COVID-19, and those aged 80 and above, are being offered the vaccination first. 

Over the next few days, Woodhouse Health Centre, Manor Park Medical Centre, and the Health Care Surgery, Palgrave will each receive vaccines for patients aged 80 or over as part of biggest vaccination programme in the UK’s history.

The sites are not drop-in facilities. All eligible patients will have received an invitation from their GP practice. Any appointments not used for the over 80s will be used for care and nursing home staff and practice staff who are at the highest risk of serious illness from covid. The practices will each be given another batch of vaccines in three weeks to give the same patients their booster jab.

Alun Windle, Chief Nurse, at NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Today’s vaccinations follow weeks of planning and an amazing team effort from GP practices and CCG staff who have been working round the clock to deliver the vaccine to people most at risk from covid.

“I know this will be welcome news to everyone in the city, we’re asking people to be patient. It will take time before everyone can be vaccinated. We’ll contact you when it's the right time to get your jab so please don’t contact your practice or drop in.”

Dr Tom O’Brien, a GP at the Health Care Surgery, Palgrave, said, “I’m proud to work in one of the first practices in Sheffield to roll out the vaccine. All practices involved have worked their socks off to do this for some of our most vulnerable patients. 

“I know people are really excited about the vaccine, but it’s important that people don’t now go around hugging their loved ones. We expect a full course of the vaccination will reduce someone’s chance of becoming seriously ill but we do not yet know whether it will stop them from catching and passing on the virus. So even after having the vaccination, people must follow the guidelines to protect those around them by following the hands, face, space rules. The pandemic is not over yet, there’s still a long way to go.”

The community vaccination programme will build up steadily over time with more practices across the city vaccinating. The NHS will contact people in the priority groups and clinical priority in these groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine.