THE first week of Covid-19 vaccinations at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal has taken place.

The hospital trust in south Cumbria only received news of the imminent arrival of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine last Friday. It had just 48 hours to set up a vaccination hub ahead of the first jabs, which were administered on Monday.

“Our team worked extremely hard over the weekend to decant the old Langdale Ward and get the vaccination hub ready," said Ian Cummings, estates maintenance services manager at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT).

“It was a significant challenge but we’re a tight team and we understood how important it was to roll out the vaccination programme as soon as possible. I’m hugely proud of our team’s achievements.

“The estates teams across the trust have gone the extra mile during the pandemic."

Mr Cummings is well aware of the danger Covid-19 poses, having ended up on oxygen in hospital for two-and-a-half days when he contracted the virus.

He said: "It was extremely scary and I am glad that I have now had my vaccination.”

Clive Cwaczko, an electrical tradesman for UHMBT, was one of those tasked with ensuring the vaccination hub got up-and-running. He was also among the first members of staff to be vaccinated at the hub.

Mr Cwaczko, of Kendal, said: “I was really pleased to get the vaccine because I’ve been in the thick of it since the start of the pandemic. I didn’t think it would happen so quickly.

“It will make a huge difference to everyone working on the front line and behind the scenes in the hospital. My wife is very pleased that I’ve had it because I’ve been working in the hospital environment and am ‘high risk’.

"We’ve got a 16-year-old lad and I have elderly parents living nearby who I haven’t been able to see very often; it gives all of them some peace of mind.

“I was keen to have it and I would encourage everyone else to do the same when it is offered. Protect yourself and protect others!"

People who are eligible to receive the vaccine will receive an invitation to book an appointment. For most people this will be a letter, either from their GP or the NHS. Residents are asked not to contact the NHS to book an appointment until they have received this letter.