Solicitor, 28, among first in England to receive Moderna vaccine at Sheffield Arena

Emily Sanderson received the jab the Sheffield Arena vaccination centre.

Ms Sanderson, who has an underlying health condition, was due to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine but it was changed to Moderna, the NHS said.

It comes after UK regulators said that people under the age of 30 should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying there was a possible link between the jab and “extremely rare” blood clots.

Dr Jennifer Hill, Medical Director (Operations), Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Today Sheffield Arena became one of the first centres in England to give the Moderna vaccine, and Emily aged 28 from Sheffield was one of the first to receive the vaccine today.

“The Moderna jab is being used for people under 30 who are currently eligible for a vaccination – either because they have an underlying health condition or because they are a health and care worker.

“It is great news that we now have a third vaccine at our disposal and we are still seeing a tremendous uptake by people who are eligible to have the jab.

“If you are called to make an appointment please do so and get protected because COVID-19 has not gone away and so getting protection through the vaccine, for yourself and for your friends and family, is really important.”

Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, said the rollout of the Moderna jab “marks another milestone” in the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

It is the third vaccine to be added to the NHS “armoury”, alongside the Covid-19 vaccines from Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

The news comes as the Government confirmed that it has met its target of offering a Covid-19 vaccine to the highest priority groups by mid-April – those over the age of 50 and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

And the next phase of the vaccination programme – for healthy adults under the age of 50 – is expected to begin this week.

The Vaccines Taskforce has secured 17 million doses of the Moderna vaccine for the UK.

The jab has already been rolled out in Wales and Scotland, and the vaccine is expected to be delivered to people in Northern Ireland in the coming weeks.

The NHS in England confirmed that the Moderna jab will be delivered at more than 20 vaccination sites this week including Reading’s Madejski Stadium and the Sheffield Arena.

More sites will be able to deliver the jab as supply increases.

Prof Powis said: “The Moderna rollout marks another milestone in the vaccination programme.

“We now have a third jab in our armoury and NHS staff will be using it at more than 20 sites from this week, with more coming online as supplies expand.

“England’s vaccination programme is our hope at the end of a year like no other, so please do come forward and get your jab when you’re invited.

“It is safe, quick and effective – it will protect you and your loved ones.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.