15th December 2020 – by Paz García

Dr Claire Steves receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

TwinsUK staff working in high-priority healthcare roles have now started to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The aim of the vaccine is to train your immune system to build protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. This helps to protect the person receiving the vaccine, as well as their community.

Dr Claire Steves is a Consultant Geriatrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust and Deputy Director (Clinical) of TwinsUK. She has been leading the TwinsUK Covid-19 research programme.

Dr Steves received her first dose of the vaccine earlier today. She said:

“For me, it’s clear that the risk of Covid and its effects on us economically and socially are huge. The risks of the vaccine in the short term are negligible and in the long term, honestly are not fully known, but likely to be small.

I work with vulnerable older people, so I feel it’s my honour to get the vaccine to protect them.”

Dr Rose Penfold receiving her first vaccine dose

Dr Rose Penfold is also a Geriatrician and is a researcher at TwinsUK. She received her first vaccine on the 18th December:

“A healthy dose of optimism to end a tough year! I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday. The whole experience was painless and other than a slightly heavy arm the following day, I didn’t notice any adverse effects.

I encourage all of you to take the opportunity to get vaccinated when you are able to, to protect yourself, friends and family and take a step on the journey towards restoring normality”

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the NHS website here.