A WW2 widow, Royal Navy veteran and Army veteran were among care home residents in High Wycombe to receive their Covid-19 vaccines.

Ena Mitchell, Harold Cooper and Jim Pitt, at the Royal Star & Garter, received the Oxford AstraZeneca jab last Monday (January 11).

ALSO READ: These are the GP surgeries currently vaccinating patients

Among the residents receiving the first of their two injections was 102-year-old Mrs Mitchell, whose husband was killed in Belgium in 1944.

Bucks Free Press:

She said: “I’m honoured to be among the first to get the vaccine, and even more so that it’s the Oxford vaccine, as I’m from Oxford.”

Mr Cooper, 92, who served in the Army, said: “It didn’t feel like anything at all. I’m happy it’s been done now,” while Mr Pitt, 76, who travelled the world during his 12 years in the Royal Navy, added: “It’s nothing compared to the yellow fever vaccine.”

Bucks Free Press:

Harold Cooper

Staff at the care home, in Hughenden Avenue, also received the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine last Monday.

ALSO READ: Marlow has vaccinated all priority one care homes and will now focus on household residents

Pauline Shaw, director of care, spoke about the importance of vaccines, and her delight that it was now available to Royal Star & Garter residents.

She said: “My mother was permanently disabled from contracting a virus, poliomyelitis, in 1952 when she was just 26.

Bucks Free Press:

Jim Pitt

“The polio vaccination was made available in 1953 and has since prevented millions of people throughout the world from developing severe disability or dying.

“This is a living example of the impact of viruses and proof of the efficacy of vaccinations, as polio can now be prevented.

“The Covid vaccine will provide protection for our residents who are vulnerable or elderly.”

It comes as the vaccination programme in Bucks continues to be rolled out, with vaccinations centres set up across the county including in High Wycombe, Princes Risborough and Aylesbury.