FIRST Minister Arlene Foster has received her first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Mrs. Foster was administered the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Castle Park Leisure centre this morning, choosing her left shoulder for the jab.

She was just one of several people attending the busy vaccination centre in operation at the Lisnaskea hub, having recently become eligible for the vaccine following the further expansion of the vaccination programme to the over-50 age group.

Speaking after her vaccination, Mrs. Foster spoke of her thanks and delight to have been vaccinated, commending the medical staff at the centre and across the country as the various Trusts continue the vaccine programme.

Speaking afterwards she said: “I’m just delighted to take my turn and get the vaccine today.

“There is a really positive community spirit here and across all of our centres in a collective effort to combat Covid-19.

“I am grateful to all of the wonderful team of medics and volunteers who are making this happen in GP practices and centres across Northern Ireland every day of the week.

“The programme is having real results. We are seeing falling levels of infection in our over-60s and I’m heartened to see the number of active outbreaks in our care homes reduce well into single figures.

“This week we hit more milestones as over 700,000 got the vaccine for the first time and over 110,000 people got their second jab.

“I’m pleased now to be one of those important statistics. The more of us that get the vaccine, the quicker we will find our way out of this.

“The programme is now expanding with the launch of the SSE Arena facility on Monday. I would encourage everyone who is eligible to step up and get booked in, to help protect themselves and their community.”