Former Saints star is first person in St Helens to have Covid vaccine

St Helens CCG working with local GP practices have today started to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine to St Helens patients in a first positive step towards normality for the borough’s communities.

Bill, who turned 90 in May this year, received a last-minute call last night to ask if he would like to do the honour of becoming the first patient in St Helens to take the Pfizer jab.

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The former Saints star, who made his debut at Knowsley Road in 1950, attended a mass vaccination clinic at the Totally Wicked Stadium this morning.

Bill, who is a patient of Hall Street Medical Centre, has encouraged anyone else offered the vaccine to grab the opportunity with both hands.

“I was delighted to be invited to have my vaccine today at Saints having not been able to visit the ground and see a match for some time,” Bill said.

“I turned 90 earlier this year and if I can have it, anyone can.

“I can now look forward to spending time with my friends and family after Christmas, and being able to worry less about catching it as an older person.

“When you are offered the vaccine, my advice is ‘take it’ – it’s quick and painless and everyone here today has been so brilliant and have worked so hard to make this happen.”

The primary care vaccination service is one of the first designated local vaccination sites across the country to lead the biggest and most complex immunisation programme in the history of the NHS.

GPs and practice nurses will be administering the vaccine to people registered with a St Helens GP practice who are aged 80 and over.

The vaccine is typically delivered by a simple injection in the shoulder.  All those who are vaccinated will need to return for a booster jab 21 days later.

Over the past week, GP practices have been inviting people to attend the mass vaccination clinic.

They are also working with care home providers to ensure that residents, as well as care home staff, are vaccinated in situ when further vaccines arrive.

Dr Hilary Flett, a governing body member of St Helens CCG, is the clinical lead for the Covid-19 vaccination roll out in St Helens.

The Mill Street Medical Centre GP also had the honour of administering the first Covid vaccination to Bill.

Dr Hilary Flett administered the Covid jab to Bill Adair this morning

Dr Flett said: “The Covid-19 vaccination programme is the single biggest immunisation programme in the history of the NHS and we are absolutely privileged and excited that the local vaccination site at the Saints stadium that our GP practices have worked so hard with the CCG to set up is one of the first to receive the vaccine and be at the forefront of delivery for GP patients in St Helens.

“As the programme rolls out, as a local vaccination site we will be providing the vaccine to those first who are the most vulnerable and at highest risk, as well as people who are frontline workers in the borough, and then the wider population of St Helens based on age and risk.

“Your GP practice will call you when it is your turn to have the jab – please don’t contact them.

“Today is a momentous day and a milestone in our Covid-19 recovery as we work towards getting back to normal.  We have received and safely stored the vaccine and we are ready to go.”

The community sites build on the work of the scores of hospital hubs which have already started vaccinating.

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Whiston, St Helens and Newton hospitals, was not included in the first wave.

Mass vaccination clinics will be run from Saints' Totally Wicked Stadium

Professor Sarah O’Brien, clinical accountable officer for St Helens CCG and executive director of integrated people’s services at St Helens Council, added: “Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point and prepare for this roll out.

“The vaccination programme will help us see a reduction in cases across our communities and keep people safe from Covid-19, especially those who are most at risk.

“To aid the success of the vaccination programme we are asking everyone to continue to follow the necessary restrictions in the local area, maintain social distancing, wash hands frequently and wear a face covering, so we can further suppress the virus and allow our NHS to provide services without being overwhelmed.

“By protecting the NHS we can saves more lives and treat more people.”