Susan Gilby, the boss of the Countess of Chester NHS Trust, has urged Cheshire West residents to take up the opportunity of getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

Speaking at a meeting of CWAC's outbreak board on December 9, the health chief said that the hospital was currently vaccinating roughly 250 people per day, and was expecting to take delivery of 975 vaccine doses on Friday (December 11).

The Countess, which has 28 per cent of its beds occupied by Covid patients, was named as one of the 53 hospital vaccine hubs by the government, and gave its first inoculation to 92-year-old Mona Thomas, from Tarvin, yesterday.

Dr Gilby also addressed some fears residents may have over the vaccine: "I do not think people need to be alarmed about adverse reactions [seen in two NHS workers this week].

"The two reactions were from individuals known to have severe anaphylactic reactions in the past. It is not surprising, during the trials the incidence of allergic reactions was one in 1,000. The two people affected are fine now."

Dr Gilby also batted away suggestions that the vaccine had been rushed through trials: "There's nothing at all to be concerned about — it has been really thoroughly tested. The regulators have been testing in as toughly as they would normally but in parallel.

"It is a bit like cooking the courses of a multiple course meal at the same time and getting the approval for them all at the end together.

"I am so confident it is safe that I got it, and I have some allergies."

The roll out of the vaccine is ongoing, with NHS advice being to wait to be contacted if you are on a higher-risk register and thus eligible to get the jab sooner.