Relieved daughter claims coronavirus vaccine has already saved the lives of her parents by helping them fight off the infection when they caught it over Christmas

A daughter whose elderly parents were among the first to receive the new Pfizer vaccine has described how the jab saved their lives when they contracted the virus over Christmas. 

Ron, 87, and Mary Devenney, 89, from Cotteridge, Birmingham, caught the virus just days after they received the new vaccine on December 15.

Their daughter Ros Grant, 60, from Inkberrow, Worcestershire, who was left fearing the worst when her parents tested positive for the virus, now believes the vaccine may have 'saved their lives' by helping them fight off the disease.

Ron, 87, and Mary Devenney, 89, were among the first to receive the new vaccine on December 15

Ms Grant, who runs a garage door company with her husband Bruce, said that she had tested positive for Covid on December 23 and had taken her mother shopping and done some housework for her parents the day before. 

She said: 'It's scary to think we're all running around with no symptoms, infecting everyone else.

'Straight away I was worrying about Mum and Dad but they said they felt OK.

'I went to bed and felt extremely ill. I had to have the paramedics out twice. I did think I was going to die.'

Fortunately, Ms Grant started to recover but was then devastated to learn that her parents had begun to feel unwell.

On December 27, Mr and Mrs Devenney were taken by their granddaughter to be tested in Stirchley and both tests came back positive.

Ms Grant continued: 'My dad suffers from heart failure and breathing difficulties and so is very vulnerable.

'Dad takes around 10 to 12 tablets a day. I thought he was going to die and that I had given it to him. 

'He'd not been out since March so I think they caught it when I went into the house.

'But neither of them felt too bad. Mum just had a bit of a cold and diarrhoea and Dad was tired.

'My husband Bruce caught Covid from me too and although he wasn't as ill as me, I think if they'd been as bad as Bruce, they wouldn't have survived it.

'I couldn't get out of bed for a week and I cracked my rib coughing.'

Daughter Ros (right with her parents Ron and Mary Devenney and her brother Tony) believes the vaccine her parents received before they contracted the virus may have saved their lives

The couple are fit and well and returned to West Heath Hospital on January 6 for the second dose of their vaccine

Two weeks later, Mr and Mrs Devenney are fit and well and returned to West Heath Hospital on January 6 for the second part of their vaccine.

Ms Grant said: 'They'd read all the brochures about the vaccine so they knew they could get Covid after having the injection but that the symptoms would not be as bad as if they hadn't had the vaccine.'

She added: 'I believe the vaccine saved their lives.'

Husband Bruce added: 'Clearly, the jab has worked and literally saved the lives of two very vulnerable Cotteridge residents.

'We thought this would give people a bit of hope.'