James White, 82, from Runcorn and Bill Vernon, 84, were the first patients to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Warrington Hospital’s vaccination hub which opened on Tuesday.

After receiving the first dose of the vaccine from Occupational Health Nurse Lorraine Kenyon, Mr White said he was “just looking forward to being able to go and visit his grandchildren”, when this is possible.

Soon afterward Mr Vernon was vaccinated by Lead Nurse, Deb Hatton and said: “I asked about it today at my appointment and they said I could have it, so I jumped at the chance as I want to feel safer and see my family.”

Simon Constable, Chief Executive of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is great news that at WHH we are now underway with administering the vaccine to patients aged over 80 and those NHS and care home staff prioritised for the first phase of this vaccination programme.

“This is huge step in our local fight against COVID-19 and we are delighted that after several weeks of preparations we have been able to put our plans into action. Our teams will be working hard in the days before Christmas to deliver the first dose of the vaccine to as many of those called up as we can and continuing throughout the festive period and into the new year.

"I would like to thank all the teams involved and thank all those who have been called up and booked in with us for their first vaccination.”

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals is one of a number of hospital hubs in Cheshire and Merseyside. There is no need to contact the hospital about an appointment to be vaccinated. Anyone in priority groups will receive an invitation to book in for the vaccine via a communication from either their GP or other NHS hub.