PEOPLE are being asked to wait for their turn to be vaccinated against Covid after a 90-year-old in the North-East turned up at a hospital expecting to get the jab as the biggest immunisation programme in history gets underway.

A Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust spokeswoman said a woman in her 90s had turned up at a hospital, having watched the news.

She said people will be contacted when it is their turn to be vaccinated.

Dr Hari Shukla was given a sticker as he became one of the first people in the country to be given the Covid-19 vaccine.

The 87-year-old and his wife, Ranjan, travelled to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech jab in the arm.

Dr Shulka was born in Uganda and came to this country in 1974, working in race relations, and was the director of the Tyne and Wear Racial Equality Council.

The father-of-four, who has nine grandchildren, has been honoured with a CBE for his work in race relations, and has supported numerous charities in voluntary roles.

Nurse Suzanne Medows said “Congratulations” after she injected him in the left arm, and there was a ripple of applause.

She then said he could make his grandchildren jealous by having a sticker they did not have – one which read “I’ve had my Covid vaccination”.

After being the first or around 100 people to be vaccinated in Newcastle on Tuesday, Dr Hari Shukla said: “I feel proud of myself that I have had this privilege of participating in this very important activity.

“I don’t take this for granted because 100s of people have worked for this vaccine day and night to make sure we got the vaccines in good time, so the lives of people can be saved.

“The whole world is looking at us to see how things go.

“The ways things have been organised has been absolutely wonderful.

“We feel very comfortable.

“We are absolutely grateful to almighty God for giving us such a wonderful health service, which I feel is the best in the world.”

Ranjan Shukla was second to be vaccinated in Newcastle, after watching her husband go first.

Afterwards, she said they had been called out of the blue and asked if they wanted to be vaccinated.

“When I told my family they were overjoyed,” she said.

“They said ‘You’re very lucky, mum and dad’.”

Dr Shukla said it was important they took part in the programme and wanted to encourage others to follow them.

He said: “I feel happy I have been able to play my part.”

His wife added: “It is such a historic day, I didn’t realise it at the time we were asked but now as time goes on, I see it is something bigger than I was expecting.”

James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough was also nnounced as one of the first Covid-19 vaccine hubs, after administering its first vaccine today.

The hospital began vaccinating patients aged 80-years and over, care home workers and NHS workers at higher risk today.

This morning, Margaret Dixon, from Redcar, was one of the first patients to be given the jab.

She said: “I’m looking forward to being free and being able to go to the shops, I’ve not been in one since March."

Alan Downey, chairman of the South Tees Hospitals NHS trust tweeted: "First Covid-19 vaccination completed at 7.36 this morning at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. Huge logistical effort. Fantastic achievement by a wonderful team."

In the North-East and Yorkshire, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals, South Tees, Hull University Teaching Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are the first to administer the vaccination is it rolls out today.

People aged 80 and older, care home workers and NHS workers who are at higher risk are at the front of the queue for the jabs.