Coronavirus: Mum and daughter carers first to get vaccine in Cornwall

Donna and Erin MacKinnon were the first to receive the vaccine in Cornwall

Two care home workers from the same family have been the first in Cornwall to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

Donna MacKinnon, head of care at Roscarrack House Care Home in Falmouth, said she hoped this would be a "real turning point" for everyone.

She said the experience was "really emotional", especially as she had a "spell" in hospital after a Covid-19 outbreak at the home.

At the Royal Cornwall Hospital, about 200 people each day will have the jab.

Ms MacKinnon said six residents and nine members of staff had coronavirus earlier in the year, but "luckily" all came through.

"It's been awful to see our residents so isolated and to see their families suffer as well," the 47-year-old said.

Ms MacKinnon said she hoped the vaccine would be a "turning point"

Her daughter, Erin, used to work in the kitchen at the care home, but due to staff shortages during the outbreak "she stepped up into care".

"It was scary, but it needed to be done," said the 18-year-old.

Ms MacKinnon said she was proud of her daughter and of "all the staff".

"We have had residents who have become poorly with the virus at our home and we've seen first-hand the impact it has had on their lives, on their families and their friends inside and out of the home," she said.

At Royal Cornwall Hospital about 200 people are expected to have the jab each day

About 50 of the 60 staff at Perran Bay Care Home also went to hospital to be vaccinated.

One resident said she was looking forward to being the "first in the queue" when she had the chance to be vaccinated herself, adding it would be "a nice Christmas present".

Helen Winn, lead vaccination nurse at the hospital in Truro said she was "very excited" and the vaccination would be "an absolute game changer".