THE first people in the North-East have received the Covid-19 vaccination.

Eighty-seven-year-old retired race relations expert Dr Hari Shukla, of Newcastle, helped make medical history on Tuesday when he did his “duty” and became one of the first people in the western world to have the coronavirus vaccine.

“I’m so pleased we are, hopefully, coming towards the end of this pandemic and I am delighted to be doing my bit by having the vaccine”, said Dr Shukla. “I feel it is my duty to do so and do whatever I can to help.”

Dr Shukla and his wife Ranjan, 83, had the first of their two injections of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary - a week after Britain became the first country to approve it.

He added: “Having been in contact with NHS staff I know how hard they all work and I am grateful for everything they have done to keep us safe during the pandemic.”

Dr Shukla is one of 400,000 people who will be injected as a priority by the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is one of 50 hospitals across England to chosen as part of the first wave of the programme.

People aged 80 and over, those who live or work in a care home, or are an NHS worker with poor underlying health or whose work puts them at higher risk, are priority.

Now, Dame Jackie Daniel, chief executive of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has thanked the Shuklas and praised all those involved in delivering the new vaccine programme.

She said: “Since we cared for the UK’s first patients with coronavirus back in January, we have been hoping for and contributing to research to develop a vaccine. It’s an honour and a privilege to be able to be among the first in the world to provide vaccinations to frontline staff, key workers and vulnerable people.”

It is believed Tynedale residents will go to the RVI to receive the vaccine.