Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Chase Farm Hospital as nurses received some of the first Covid-19 Oxford vaccines.

Staff at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield were among the first to receive the Oxford vaccine, and the Prime Minister was there to watch over the vaccination process.

Nurse Susan Cole was among the NHS staff to be vaccinated in front of Mr Johnson, and she told the PA news agency she was surprised to see the Prime Minister – but she knew a VIP would be visiting.

The 60-year-old added: “It was just really surreal, I knew there was going to be a VIP, but I just thought it would be a local MP.

“My husband was joking it would be the PM and I said ‘don’t be daft’, so it was a surprise.

“He (Mr Johnson) asked how I felt about having the vaccine and we talked a little bit about how important it was not just for the person but to protect other people.”

Enfield Independent: Boris Johnson gave a thumbs up during his visit of the vaccination process (Photo: PA)Boris Johnson gave a thumbs up during his visit of the vaccination process (Photo: PA)

Chemotherapy nurse Christina Omodara also met the prime minister while she waited for her vaccination.

The 62-year-old said: “He just said are we excited while we were waiting and we said we were.”

She said the vaccination was reassuring because of her work with cancer patients, and added: “Because I am working with cancer patients, my worry is if I don’t know I have it, I can transfer it.

“Having the vaccine reassured me that at least I was safe and I won’t transfer anything to them.”

Enfield Independent: Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited staff at Chase Farm Hospital (Photo: PA)Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited staff at Chase Farm Hospital (Photo: PA)

Downing Street has said the Government is “ramping up” the coronavirus vaccination programme with the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.

“The NHS has the capacity to deliver vaccines as soon as they have been manufactured and have undergone the relevant safety checks,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“We are ramping up the vaccine programme. More GPs and hospitals are coming on stream all the time.

“Our priority has always been and will remain getting the vaccine to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. The NHS is set up to do that.”