A HOUSTON woman was given a precious gift yesterday as she turned 108...the coronavirus vaccine.

Marion Dawson received the jab on her birthday at Houston and Killellan Kirk, which is being used by her local GP surgery to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations to the local community.

She is the third oldest person in Scotland and the most senior in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area to get the jab.

Afterwards, Marion – who was born in 1913 and has lived through two world wars and the Spanish flu pandemic – told The Gazette: “I never felt a thing.”

Dr Diane Fisher, a partner at Strathgryffe Medical Practice, who administered the vaccine, was full of praise for Marion for setting an example as the fight to defeat Covid-19 is stepped up.

She said: “We are so excited to be starting vaccination of our over-80s population here in the church within the heart of Houston and that our first patient to be vaccinated is doing so on her birthday.”

Dr Mark Storey, practice partner and one of the vaccination team, added: “It’s been a very difficult year in General Practice and society as a whole.

“In our practice, we have a family of 10,000 patients, so we are delighted to start vaccinating.”

The Reverend Gary Noonan, minister at Houston and Killellan Kirk, described Marion as “a local treasure.”

He said: “Until the lockdown, she never missed a week at church. It’s fitting she could get her vaccine in the Kirk, a place she loves.

“The Church should be at the very heart of communities, so I’m delighted we can offer our building to assist in this national effort.

“I encourage everyone to get the vaccine and help bring the hope that will allow us to gather safely once more.”

It is understood that vaccination of over-80s has also started at Linden Medical Centre, Westfield Medical Practice and Quarryside Practice, in Johnstone.

John Millar, of the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “GP surgeries are still focusing on vaccinating people over 80 and the other priority group is frontline health and social care workers.

“An announcement is expected to be made over the coming days about mass vaccination centres for the next priority groups and where they are going to be.”