Cheshire pharmacy one of first in the country to deliver Covid-19 vaccine
Andrews Pharmacy in Macclesfield is one of six in England to begin administering doses.
Last updated 14th Jan 2021
The director of a high street pharmacy in Cheshire has described joining the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out as one of the biggest days of my career'' as the site began delivering its first jabs.
Andrews Pharmacy in Macclesfield is one of six pharmacies in England to begin administering doses as the Government seeks to expand the vaccination programme.
Speaking on Thursday, director Andrew Hodgson, who has owned pharmacies in the area for more than 30 years, described the rush to set up a vaccination site as a whirlwind''.
He gave the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab to 82-year-old Robert Salt at 8am on Thursday morning.
It is probably the biggest single day of my career,'' Mr Hodgson said.
He added: It's been a bit of a whirlwind. We've set this up in three or four weeks from scratch.
The whole team is very excited to be part of the roll-out.''
Mr Hodgson said he knew four generations of some of the families who use the pharmacy.
I feel close to the people who are getting vaccinated and it is a personal experience for them,'' he said.
Mr Salt said it was "wonderful" to have received his first dose, adding: "There was a little trepidation but it's good, everything has gone fine today, apart from the weather.''
He said he felt relieved, but added he still had to be careful as his wife was still waiting for a vaccine appointment because she is under 80.
I'm healthy but you know you're in the age range where you're very vulnerable,'' Mr Salt said.
The situation with the death rates going up the way they have done is pretty frightening.''
Elsewhere, Boots in Halifax, Cullimore Chemist in Edgware, north London, Woodside Pharmacy in Telford, Appleton Village Pharmacy in Widnes and Superdrug in Guildford have also joined the roll-out.