90-year-old Lutterworth woman gets Covid-19 vaccination – just 20 days after her husband tragically died after contracting coronavirus

A brave woman of 90 from Lutterworth has had her vital Covid-19 vaccination today (Wednesday) – just 20 days after her husband tragically died after contracting the coronavirus.

Amazingly resilient Sheila Thomas received her Pfizer jab this morning along with hundreds of other patients from all over the area at the Kube events building at Leicester Racecourse.

The mother-of-one and grandmother-of-two received the vaccine less than three weeks after her beloved husband Roger, 86, passed away on Thursday December 3.

Talking as she finished her Christmas food shopping in Morrisons in Lutterworth, Sheila said: “It was fantastic to be vaccinated today – I’m thrilled to bits.

“It all went very smoothly.

“I was very impressed with the whole thing.”

The remarkable pensioner, who was taken to Leicester to be treated by her NHS nurse daughter Emma Clay, added: “The last thing I want is to get Covid.

“Like everyone I have to go one day – but not just yet.

“I’ve got a lovely daughter and two gorgeous grand-daughters so I’m very lucky and I’m looking forward to Christmas with them.”

Emma, 51, who lives over the road from her mum in Lutterworth, said as she helped her shop: “My mum’s fine, she did ever so well today.

“I’m very proud of her.

“The atmosphere in there today at Leicester Racecourse was just so good.

“It was great to see people being so positive and looking upwards rather than downwards after this very tough year for all of us.”

A nurse based at Rugby’s St Cross Hospital, Emma added: “It’s particularly poignant because we have just lost my dad Roger on December 3.

“He died after contracting Covid-19.

“This life-saving vaccine’s obviously come too late for him, very sadly.

“But it makes it even more important that my mum has been able to be vaccinated – and so many other elderly people along with her.

“We had our dedicated time slot today and it was all so well organised.

“It really was a credit to the NHS staff staging this event,” said mum-of-two Emma.

“My mum had the vaccination before being led to a seat two metres away from the next one as she was watched over and monitored as she recovered after having the injection.

“This vaccine is a gamechanger and it’s what we’ve all been hoping for.

“It’s the only way we are going to beat this terrible pandemic.

“NHS staff and medics at St Cross Hospital, where I work, are now being vaccinated area by area based on priority.

“Our Intensive Care Unit staff have already been done and I hope to receive the vaccine myself in the next few weeks.

“But it really is excellent news and I’m delighted that my mum, who’s absolutely brilliant for her age, has now been vaccinated and protected.”