WATCH: First to receive jab in NI lauds ‘huge’ moment in pandemic battle

By Michael McHugh and David Young, PA

The first person to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in Northern Ireland has said it felt like a “huge moment” in the battle against the pandemic.

Joanna Sloan, 28, is sister in charge of the team of vaccinators for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland’s largest.

She received the jab at the Royal Victoria Hospital in West Belfast shortly after 8am on Tuesday morning, and said it felt like she had cleared the final hurdle.

The nurse, from Dundrum in Co Down, said: “I feel privileged and honoured and a little bit emotional that we have got here – very, very grateful.”

She felt “apprehensive and nervous” beforehand.

As the vaccine was administered, she said she was thinking: “At last – we are here.”

Ms Sloan added: “Through everything that healthcare workers (went through), either in hospital or (the) community – people themselves losing family members, us losing colleagues – it felt like it was a huge moment and that this was and could possibly be the final hurdle in the fight against Covid.”

Ms Sloan is a former emergency department nurse and has been in her job for six years.

She is engaged but her wedding was postponed due to the pandemic.

She has a daughter aged five.

🎥Here's the moment Co Down nurse Joanna Sloan, 28, became the first person on the island of Ireland to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. @PA pic.twitter.com/DH5yF1Ax1Z

— David Young (@DavidYoungPA) December 8, 2020

Joanna Sloan said: “I feel privileged and honoured and a little bit emotional that we have got here – very, very grateful.”

She felt “apprehensive and nervous” before receiving the jab, but as it was administered she was thinking: “At last.”

She added: “Through everything that healthcare workers, either in hospital or community … losing family members, us losing colleagues, it felt like a huge moment and that this was the final hurdle in the fight against Covid.”

Afterwards she said she felt fine.

“It did not feel any different than any other immunisation that I have had, I did not feel any pain.”

Meanwhile,

Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann said: “Let us not underestimate the importance of today and what we are seeing with the start of our vaccination programme.”

He told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme: “It is a game changer, it is a big day.

“It is the day we have long been waiting for.”

He said it should be greeted with optimism but tempered with caution.

“This is the start of a long road to recovery but we are on the first step.”

Meanwhile,

Stormont deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill said it was a “big day”.

“Joanna is certainly leading the way.

“It shows that there is some confidence and optimism about next year and what that will bring, the return to some normality for all of us.

“I am delighted that today is the first step forward and it will be received very positively by the public.”

🎥 “The tide is certainly starting to turn,” says @moneillsf

The deputy First Minister has just been giving a press conference, reacting to the news of the first Coronavirus vaccines being administered today. pic.twitter.com/jyEpEA6yfn

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 8, 2020

Ms O’Neill said Covid-19 remained very prevalent in society and warned she could not rule out further restrictions.

“This (vaccine) shows that there is something else.

“It is not that this is an eternal pattern of lockdowns and restrictions. There is a very clear way out.

“It is a good day, certainly a day of relief and positivity.”

She said pandemic restrictions represented an “evolving” situation.

“We have to keep everything under review, everything must be on the table. We cannot be certain but we can give people clarity around when it is going to happen.

“We have to keep the situation under daily review and that will continue throughout Christmas and the New Year.”