First Covid-19 vaccination at Hollybrook Lodge, St James’s Hospital residential care unit

Covid-19 survivor Maura Byrne, 95, received the Covid-19 vaccination today in Hollybrook Lodge, St James’s Hospital’s residential care unit.

After receiving the vaccine Maura said; “I feel great at the moment!” and she encouraged others to get vaccinated.

Maura Byrne, pictured with vaccinator Ruth Hughes

As a result of visiting restrictions in place in her home, Maura has been unable to see her family and has missed receiving the human touch from them but says; “I’m very very happy.

“I’m really happy.

“I’m lucky, I have an iPad so I have little chats.

“When I go back up now I’ll say ‘Look! I got the vaccine’, it’s lovely, they all have messages for you.

“I have 15 great grandchildren. The great grandchildren would be standing on their heads, they’re really funny.”

Maura thanked her family and the nurses in Hollybrook Lodge for their support; “The nurses here are very kind. It’s a home from home.”

Sadly Maura’s husband Stephen died of Covid-19 last year.

Maura was recovering from Covid-19 at the time and was unable to attend the funeral.

“I buried my husband and I couldn’t see him.

“I watched it on a phone.

“I wanted to touch my own (family).

“On my husband’s card he told me that I could ‘cry and want me back or smile and think of the happy days we had’.”

Maura keeps smiling and is hopeful with the rollout of the vaccine.

Mary Day, CEO, St James’s Hospital said:

“As Ireland’s largest acute academic teaching hospital and home to Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA), a facility dedicated to advancing the conditions for successful ageing, it is particularly fitting that the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine in a residential care setting took place today in St James’s Hospital’s residential care unit, Hollybrook Lodge.

“We know that Covid-19 has been particularly challenging for older people and vaccinating our older and vulnerable population and those who care for them is our priority.

“Thanks to all the residents and staff for their support in rolling out the vaccine.”