This Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh reveals he’s had his first COVID-19 vaccine

This Morning’s Dr Ranj Singh has revealed he’s had his first COVID-19 vaccine as he urged viewers to get the jab on Friday.

The medic, 41, was filmed heading to a London hub for the injection as he said it was ‘extra important’ for him to be protected against coronavirus as he continues working on the NHS frontline during the pandemic.

Speaking to Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, Dr Ranj urged viewers to ‘listen to the experts’ and get the vaccine as he insisted he felt ‘absolutely fine’ apart from a few minor side effects.

Ranj was filmed heading to a vaccination hub set up on London’s Southbank for frontline workers, as he prepared to have the Oxford vaccine, which began its nationwide roll out on Monday.

He explained: ‘I’ve already registered and filled out various forms the other day so hopefully this process is going to be quite quick.

‘It’s extra important for me to have it because I am from a minority ethnic background and that puts me at slightly higher risk and I’m a frontline worker so it’s really really important that I protect myself, my patients and my colleagues.’ 

Footage showed Ranj having the injection in his arm, before he said: ‘I’ve had my jab my 15 minutes are over, and I feel absolutely fine. It was so quick and easy and slick.’

Later Ranj filmed himself minutes before going to bed and he once again reassured viewers he hadn’t suffered any major side effects.

He added: ‘I am going to bed feeling reassured that in a few weeks time I’m going to be so much better protected.’

Ranj then chatted to Alison and Dermot about how he’d felt after getting the vaccine, explaining: ‘I’m good. Other than a little bit of a sore arm, a bit of a headache, and just feeling – you know when you feel like you’re coming down with something? 

‘I’ve just got that, nothing else, and that’s totally expected. You get loads of information when you go for your jab about what to expect afterwards and these are common side effects. 

‘It’s a sign that your immune system is working, that your immune system is recognising the vaccine and making antibodies and t-cells – this is how you should feel, and it’s temporary.’ 

The show’s resident GP then addressed viewers’ concerns about the vaccine about whether it could make them ill in the aftermath, explaining he spoke to an expert who put his own doubts at ease. 

He continued: ‘Both vaccines [that are approved in the UK] train your immune system to do the same thing, to fight Coronavirus if you encounter it. 

‘The priority is to get as many people protected as soon as possible… We have already immunised 1.5 million people in this country – that’s a huge amount of people – and we haven’t seen a huge number of people with significant side effects from it, we get minor side effects. 

‘I trust this programme, it is the best line of defence we have and I would encourage everyone to get it if you’re eligible.’ 

He continued: ‘I listened to the experts. There is no conspiracy there is no fake news, all medical treatments have potential side effects.’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scrambling to scale up the UK’s sluggish immunisation drive, after the Oxford jab became the second vaccine to be approved.

So far the country’s vaccination programme has been plagued by supply and staffing shortages, logistical problems and bureaucratic barriers that have strangled its scale-up. It has meant that only 1.3 million Brits have had the jab since it launched a month ago.

Figures show that the NHS in England has now managed to inoculate almost 1.1 million people since the mass immunisation drive began.

The UK remains in national lockdown with a target of innoculating three million people per week, in the hope that restrictions could being easing in mid-February.

The vaccine is the biggest breakthrough since the pandemic began, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives.

The country-wide vaccination programme is the largest in NHS history and just like other routine vaccines, works by teaching the immune system how to defend itself against attack. 

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.