CARERS in Oxfordshire who open their own homes to adults who need support have begun receiving Covid vaccinations.

John and Barbara McGrath of Abingdon were among the first to get the jab. They have been Shared Lives carers with Oxfordshire County Council since November 2013.

Before this, they had been foster carers, having moved into the Shared Lives scheme to allow them to continue caring for a woman who they had been looking after since she was a young child.

ALSO READ: New Covid strain found in Oxfordshire

Ms McGrath said: “We have been following the guidelines carefully but our worry has always been that we will bring the virus back to the person we support and it was a worry.

“We are so grateful it’s been possible for us locally.”

Mr McGrath added: “The vaccine felt no different than the flu jab, just a bit of a sore arm for two days. We feel fine now.”