A Bermudian nurse who works in Toronto has become one of the first Bermudians to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Keira Whited took the step last Wednesday after health officials in the city appealed for volunteers to take part in a vaccination pilot scheme.

She admitted that she was nervous about taking the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine because of potential side effects.

But Ms Whited said the decision was an easy one.

She added: “I don’t want to get Covid-19. Vaccines are made for a reason and Covid-19 has killed an unprecedented number of people here in Toronto.

“I live in a city that has been hit by this pandemic, and my job means that I’m at risk.

“I have co-workers testing positive almost every day, so I really wanted to ensure my protection, and the protection of others.”

Ms Whited added: “There are risks of course, because this virus is new and hasn’t been fully approved everywhere.

“So there were concerns about side effects. There are rumours going around about potential long-term side effects, about it making men infertile or whatever.

“But I’m young, I’m healthy, I’ve never had a reaction to anything and don’t have any allergies, so for me it was a simple decision. And of course, there are just as many risks with Covid-19.“

Ms Whited, a graduate of Mount St Agnes Academy, moved to Nova Scotia to study nursing at Cape Breton University before she took a job at a long-term care centre in Toronto.

The drug has been approved in some countries but is still going through trials and its long term effects are not yet known.

Supplies of the vaccine made by drugs firm Pfizer are expected to be available in Bermuda at the start of next month.

A total of 9,000 doses are expected to arrive in the first week of January.

Ms Whited said that was good news for Bermuda.

She added“I would never tell someone to take the vaccine, but if you live in an area where Covid is on the rise, I think it’s the sensible thing to do.

“And unfortunately it’s on the rise again everywhere. It’s exploding everywhere, not just in Bermuda and Toronto. It’s very disheartening.

“But I think it’s great that Bermuda will hopefully be getting supplies of the vaccine next year.”