A 101-YEAR-OLD woman in Dumbarton has become the first care home resident in the town to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Crosslet House is the first West Dunbartonshire care home to join the rollout of the vaccination since NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde began its immunisation programme earlier this week.

The programme has been open to care home staff and front line workers from the area, many of whom have already been immunised in preparation for the wider rollout, but this was the first time that elderly care home residents from the region have been vaccinated in the facility in which they live.

Chrissie Watson, who at the age of 101 is the oldest resident at Crosslet House, was proud to be the first resident to receive the vaccine.

Chrissie said: “I thought it was very important to take part and support this vaccine with the hope we can all move forward from this terrible pandemic.”

Crosslet House was at the centre of a row in the early weeks of the pandemic amid reports that 15 residents at the home had died after testing positive for Covid-19 in April.

The area's MSP, Jackie Baillie, claimed senior health and social care staff had described the home as "Covid-free".

But West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl denied this, and accused Ms Baillie of "deliberately spreading inaccurate information".

Reacting to this week's first vaccinations, Beth Culshaw, chief officer of West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be able start rolling out the vaccination programme to our care home residents in West Dunbartonshire.

"This represents a huge step forward in keeping people safe and well and ultimately reconnecting people living in care homes with their families, friends and communities.”

Dr Linda De Caestecker, director of public health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Vaccination of care home staff got under way at NHS Louisa Jordan last week and many staff took up the early opportunity to be immunised.

"We are pleased now to be in a position to deliver the vaccine to care home residents which will go a long way to protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our population.

“I’d like to thank all of the staff involved in the preparation of and delivery of the vaccine. It is testament to their hard work that we’ve been able to rapidly roll out the programme across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“While we are delighted we’re now able to vaccinate care home residents, although we have to be clear this does not mean that people should begin to relax.

“Everyone must still follow the guidelines on minimising the spread of the virus. Covid-19 is still very much with us, and much work is to be done before we get back to any sense of normality.

"It’s crucial now as we enter the festive period, that everyone continues to do work hard to help supress the virus.”