STAFF at the Royal Berkshire Hospital feel “a sense of responsibility” to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

That’s according to Dominic Hardy, chief operating officer at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, who said hundreds of members of staff have received the jab since the trust launched its vaccination programme on Monday, January 4.

NHS bosses are trying to reassure care home workers in Berkshire that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is safe, because some have been reluctant to take it in recent weeks.

READ MORE: Royal Berkshire Hospital 'exceptionally busy' with Covid 19 patients

But when asked if there had been any reluctance from Royal Berkshire Hospital staff, Mr Hardy said: “No, none whatsoever.”

“People here realise it’s a vaccine that’s been through incredibly rigorous trials and regulatory process,” he said.

“People also recognise their sense of responsibility here.

“They know they need to get vaccinated because that not only protects them, but also their family, their team and the patients they are caring for.”

The trust, which runs the hospital, is encouraging staff to take the vaccine but states no one will be forced to.

There are now over 200 Covid-19 patients at the Reading hospital and more are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Mr Hardy said staff are treating more people for the virus now than they were at the peak of the first wave and they have had to create additional capacity in the intensive care unit.

READ MORE: Care home workers 'reluctant' to take Covid-19 vaccine

Two Covid-19 vaccines have been approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The government has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, after trials found that it is 95 per cent effective at preventing infection.

It has also ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, as data suggests it is 70.4 per cent effective at preventing infection.

With both vaccines, people are being told to take two doses to develop immunity against the virus.