Our colleagues from RTL.lu were present when the first jabs of the vaccine were administered on Monday and talked to those first in line.

RTL Today article: First two vaccinations in Luxembourg on Monday (28 Dec. 2020)

Catarina Fernandes, the very first person to receive the Covid vaccine in Luxembourg, talked about the experience and the privilege of being first in line. The 40-year-old health care worker has been treating Covid patients for more than ten months now, but has not been infected herself thus far: "I am very relieved! We know that Covid infections can be accompanied by many severe complications, so I am happy to have received the vaccine and feel a bit safer. Not only for my own sake, but also because of the people around me."

28-year-old Kevin Nazarro, a cross-border nurse from France, was second in line and also humbled by his role in this symbolic campaign.

The vaccine doses were administered by Marianne Thomas, who worked as a nurse in the Ettelbruck hospital for 40 years before entering pre-retirement: "I have to admit that I was nervous, even though these were not the first injections I ever performed. When the public appeal was made, I did not hesitate coming back to work, as I love the job and have more than enough time to help."

A total of 800 people from the hospital sector are set to be vaccinated on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, attention will then shift to nursing and care home staff members, with 400 doses planned. Over the same period of time, ambulance drivers tasked with the transportation of Covid patients will receive their first jabs.

It remains to be seen how many people can actually be vaccinated in this initial phase. Dr Sébastien Français, head coordinator of the campaign, provided further insight into the procedures: "Theoretically speaking, we are able to administer 800-1,000 doses per day. But we have to wait and adapt to the situation as it unfolds."

A total of 16 vaccination cubicles have been set up at Hall Victor Hugo, a number which can also grow depending on how the situation keeps developing, Dr Français conveyed.