Covid Scotland: Nurse who vaccinated Nicola Sturgeon said pandemic experience an 'honour'

The nurse who vaccinated Nicola Sturgeon has said her experience during the coronavirus pandemic has been an “honour”.

Elaine Anderson, 51, was thrust into the limelight when she gave the First Minister her first Covid-19 jag in April.

Ms Anderson, who is from Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire, usually works as a vaccinator in schools.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon (right) before receiving the first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, administered by staff nurse Elaine Anderson, at the NHS Louisa Jordan vaccine centre in the SSE Hydro in Glasgow. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Reflecting on her experience on the vaccination programme over the past eight months, she said the “Covid war” had led to many emotional moments.

“Early on it was recognised that the school immunisation teams had a great deal of experience in this area and, as the schools were closed, we were brought into the Covid vaccination programme,” she said.

“It’s been an absolute honour, really quite overwhelming actually. In the beginning, people were coming in, often it was the first time they had been out of the house in months.

“Some were in tears, there was such relief.

“There’s been a real sense of solidarity – we are in this Covid war together and we will beat it.”

She added: “I have met so many great people from so many walks of life.

“Everyone has a story – so many interesting people I would never normally meet.

“Now we are vaccinating the young people, which is fabulous.

“Many just say ‘please get it into me’ – they just want go get back to normality.”

Describing the day she vaccinated the First Minister at the NHS Louisa Jordan facility, Ms Anderson said: “It was another honour. She was lovely and quite emotional.

“My son was very impressed and was telling all his friends his mum is famous as she vaccinated Nicola. Nicola, not even the First Minister.

“Nothing makes me happier than looking out the window and seeing people in their droves, lining up to get their vaccination.

“There’s such excitement – I get a real buzz.

“My parting line to them is ‘please don’t have a vaccination party’”

Ms Sturgeon had described herself as feeling "emotional" after received her first Covid vaccination as she paid tribute to NHS staff at the time. She had received an Oxford/AstraZeneca dose.