Residents of a care home in Purley voiced their joy and relief after receiving their first doses of vaccinations against the Covid-19 virus.

With the elderly and those who care for them both being at particular risk from coronavirus, the government has prioritised vaccinating both groups in its ongoing mass rollout of Covid vaccines.

To that end, everyone at the Sunrise of Purley care home received their first doses of the vaccine on a single day last week (January 11), giving their immune systems protection against the virus that is still sweeping through populations across the globe.

Sunrise said the vaccination day was handled by staff in coordination with GPs who attended the home, with residents unable to make the journey to vaccination centres themselves.

Your Local Guardian: Sunrise of Purley team decorated the home in celebration of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. Sunrise of Purley team decorated the home in celebration of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.

Those who got their jabs expressed their relief and happiness at taking their own personal step towards ending the pandemic.

"I have received my COVID injection, which gives me some peace of mind and comfort knowing that all can be done is done in the fight against this dreadful disease," Bernard Digby, who lives at the Purley home, said.

"Keep up the good work to keep us all safe," he added.

Another resident, Christine Nicholson, voiced similarly positive opinions on the vaccine as well as hopes that everyone would soon be protected in the same way.

"My thoughts on having the vaccine are nothing but good, as long as everybody has it!

"Thank you for all the arrangements that have to be made," she said.

The government has said it aims to vaccinate all of the most vulnerable, including everyone over 70, against coronavirus by the Spring, and will offer all adults in the UK vaccinations from September.

There are doubts however about how soon the existing lockdown measures, aimed at driving infections and deaths down at present, will last, and some ministers have suggested they would end as soon as possible despite concerns over mutations of the virus.

Regardless of the short-term strategy of dealing with the pandemic, it will likely end through a mass-vaccination programme at those at Sunrise of Purley were keen to play their part:

Sheila Pearmain, Concierge at the home said:

"I am so relieved to have now had the first part of the vaccine, this is a weight off my mind and off my family."

Azagan, who works in Senior Care at Sunrise of Purley, added:

"We are so privileged to have the opportunity to get the vaccine so early, this is the first step to things getting back to normal."