THERE have been sighs of relief and quiet celebrations at Broadway Halls Care Home in Dudley after residents and staff received their Covid-19 vaccines.

Elderly people at five care homes across the Dudley borough have now had coronavirus vaccines...although health and council chiefs have not confirmed which ones and how many residents have so far received Covid jabs.

Residents and staff at Barchester Healthcare's Broadway Halls Care Home on The Broadway in Dudley received their vaccines at the end of last week and general manager Rebecca Long said: “Last year was a year like no other and the vaccine feels like the light at the end of the tunnel.

"All residents that consented had the Oxford vaccine on Friday January 8; 33 staff members had the Pfizer vaccine.

"The remaining team members will be vaccinated this week hopefully. Our teams have been magnificent in how they have risen to every challenge during this pandemic and we are proud to play our part in this next phase to ensure the most vulnerable are protected which is great news."

Claire Davies, staff member at Broadway Halls, added: “I am so pleased to be given the vaccine.

"It will help to keep our residents safe, and is the first step in getting things back to normal and having a buzz of visitors in the home once again.”

Councillor Nic Barlow, Dudley Council's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said health teams were working hard to get the vaccines out "as quickly as possible" and he added: "It's important that we get our vulnerable groups done first."

As the first vaccines got underway he praised the rollout to residents and staff in Dudley's care homes as "wonderful news" but he said getting the vaccine out there to those who need it was "not an easy job" and he stressed this week: "It's not this magic shield that's going to make you invincible. We have still got to follow the guidance."

He urged everyone in the community to continue to follow the hands, face, space guidelines and to stay at home as much as possible at this crucial time to help save lives.

New Bradley Hall care home in Kingswinford, run by Black Country Housing, has also confirmed residents and staff have now received Covid-19 jabs.