A 79-year-old Dublin grandmother has become the first person in the Republic to get the coronavirus vaccine.
Annie Lynch, from the Liberties area, got the vaccine at St James’s Hospital this afternoon.
The grandmother of 10 said she felt "very privileged" to have become the first person in Ireland to get the jab.
CNM Deborah Cross administers first vaccine in Ireland to the inspirational Annie Lynch from the Liberties in St James’s Hospital today. Céim mór chun tosaigh. pic.twitter.com/Y64AE8TFew
— Dr Colm Henry, CCO HSE Ireland (@CcoHse) December 29, 2020
Annie said it was "brilliant" that a vaccine against COVID-19 had arrived in Ireland and that information about the inoculation was "explained very clearly" to her beforehand.
She added: "I feel very privileged to be the first person in Ireland to receive the vaccine. Like everyone else I have been waiting for the vaccine and I really feel like there is a bit of hope there now. "
Around 2,000 vaccinations are expected to take place in four hospital settings over the coming days before rollout begins in more than 580 nursing homes around the country from next week.
The vaccinations are taking place at St James's Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and University Hospitals Cork and Galway.
— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) December 29, 2020
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said today is "a ray of light after what has been a trying year".
He stated that it is a "testament to the work of the medical and scientific communities that we now have safe and effective vaccines to help to protect us against the devastating effects of COVID-19".
On Late Breakfast with Mark Cagney this morning, Professor Brian MacCraith said Annie's is a "great story."
"Born in Christchurch, grew up in the Liberties, she has been in hospital for a number of weeks," he said. "Sadly, her husband passed away a couple of weeks before her admission.
"She has ten grandchildren, one of whom actually works in the ICU department in St James’s so that has a nice turn to it as well.
"I am told that Annie is delighted to be getting the vaccine and feels very, very privileged to be the very first person in Ireland to receive the vaccine so look, it is a great story and it is so important that those who have really suffered most from the COVID-19 pandemic are prioritised here - so frontline healthcare workers and older adults."
Meet Annie Lynch (79) from Dublin who has become the first person in Ireland to be vaccinated against #COVID19. “I feel very privileged to be the first person in Ireland to receive the vaccine,” said Annie who got the vaccine today at @stjamesdublin.#VaccinesWork #CovidVaccine pic.twitter.com/PjBbRwJJBW
— HSE Ireland (@HSELive) December 29, 2020
In a tweet this morning, HSE chief Paul Reid said the first jabs represent a “great beacon of light.”
“Let’s all galvanise and unite behind this,” he said.
“It will take time but stay positive, stay safe, stick with us and we will get there.”
Mr MacCratih said he expects to see every Irish nursing home resident and staff member fully vaccinated by mid-February.
This article was updated at 2.33pm
