Celebrations as care home becomes first in Castleford to receive Covid vaccinations

More than 90 people at Newfield Lodge Care Home received the first dose of the vaccination last week, with the help of staff from Health Care First partnership.

Among those to be given the jab was 94-year-old Jim Moorhouse, who said: "I’m relieved to have had my Covid-19 vaccination as I am really looking forward to getting back to normality so I can see my friends and family more often and start going on outings with the lovely girls here."

It follows a difficult year for care homes, with many residents unable to meet with friends and family during the pandemic.

But Newfield Lodge has stayed in high spirits, and residents last year took part in a recreation of the music video for Queen's I Want to Break Free, complete with props and dances.

Emily Waugh, activities coordinator at the home, said: "It's like a weight has been lifted, we're getting back to a bit of normality.

"We've got a lot more to look forward to now, the residents are so happy.

"It was so nice that this is a step towards normal, and that's so important to these guys after seeing their families through a plastic screen or across a garden for months.

"It's going to be so much nicer."

A total of 91 staff and residents were given the first dose of the vaccine on Thursday, January 7, and several more have since received the jab through their local GP surgeries.

General manager Lynn Robinson said the rollout of the vaccine had been an emotional day, following months of tight restrictions. She praised the "professional and supportive" staff who had administered the jabs.

She said: "I found our vaccine day to be very emotional, it was lovely to see all the team pull together and all the residents being supported in what will hopefully be the light and the end of this long tunnel.

"Everybody on the day was extremely positive and this gave us all the boost that we needed."