A 79-year-old grandmother of 10 from Dublin has become the first person in the Republic to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Annie Lynch grew up in the Liberties in Dublin and is currently a resident in the Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing in St James's Hospital in Dublin. She has three children and 10 grandchildren and was given the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine in St James's Hospital.

"I feel very privileged to be the first person in Ireland to receive the vaccine. Like everyone else I have been waiting for the vaccine and I really feel like there is a bit of hope there now. It's brilliant that it's here. Everything was explained very clearly to me beforehand," Ms Lycnh said.

She was given a HSE vaccine information leaflet, along with a more detailed manufacturer's patient information leaflet, before getting the vaccine. Afterwards, she was given a vaccine record card, showing the name and batch of the vaccine she had received.

Meanwhile, Bernie Waterhouse, a clinical nurse manager working in a designated COVID-19 ward in St James's Hospital became the first healthcare worker in the Republic to get the COVID vaccine.

"I wanted to get the vaccine to protect myself, and the people I work with and care for every day, from COVID-19," Ms Waterhouse said.

Both Ms Lynch and Ms Waterhouse will return for their second dose of the vaccine in three weeks. Their vaccines were from the first delivery of 10,000 doses received by the HSE on December 26. The remaining doses from this delivery will be administered at St James's Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Galway.

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, described today as a "ray of light after what has been a trying year in our country". While the CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid, said that he was "very proud to see the vaccinations commence safely".

"This vaccine has the power to protect people from COVID-19 and reduce the illness and deaths caused by this terrible virus. As we know, the vaccines will be delivered in stages - we're starting in acute hospitals initially, and will move into long-term care facilities from next week, but this is a great start to an historic process," Mr Reid commented.

According to Dr. Lucy Jessop, director of the HSE's National Immunisation Office, worldwide, vaccines save up to three million lives every year, "and protect many more from crippling and lifelong illnesses".

"Only COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorised by the European Medicines Agency, having met stringent safety and effectiveness standards, will be used in Ireland. All COVID-19 vaccines will be carefully monitored over time and updated safety data and information will be published and shared by the HSE on our website and in our printed information materials," she noted.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.

*Pictured is Annie Lynch receiving the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine from Deborah Cross