Staff at a care home in Kew are among the first to be vaccinated in London.

Stefan Chioariu, 37, is the deputy care home manager at Cecil Court care home and was one of the first to receive the coronavirus vaccine last week.

He had his first dose at St George's Hospital in Tooting on Thursday (December 10) and will return to the hospital for his follow-up dose on Monday, January 4.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We were informed by the local authority that our care home staff had been selected to take part in the first roll-out of the vaccine.

"We had to write an email to register our interest, which I completed on the Sunday. I wasn't expecting anything to happen quickly.

"On Tuesday, however, I had a phone call inviting me to the hospital on Thursday. There were no special requirements – I just needed to show up. I found two groups of people awaiting the vaccine – the very elderly and care home staff.

Read more: Care home opens garden pods so people can visit their loved ones

"I completed a few forms, spoke with the doctor about allergies, then received the vaccine from a nurse.

"It was a normal scratch, just like receiving the flu jab. It was more painful the following day in my arm, but perfectly manageable.

"I'm glad to have received it so quickly – I wanted to get it over and done with. People have been waiting a year for this moment, and I'm glad to be one of the first!"

Garden pods

At the moment, the home is allowing families to book in 20-minute visits in a special 'pod' situated in the garden.

There are doors at either end so residents and visitors can enter from different doors.

Screens are in place and visitors must wear masks to ensure safe social distancing.

However, the provision of comfortable sofas and heating and lighting means families can spend more time together than when visits were only allowed outside.

They have even been decorated with lights and trees outside in time for Christmas.

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