THE coronavirus vaccine has "brought colour back" into the life of an 83-year-old man, believed to be one of the first to be fully vaccinated in Bradford.

Pervaiz Arabian, who lives in Rhodesway with his family, received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in December and was given his second injection on Saturday at his GP surgery.

His son, Khuram Arabian, told how the vaccine will mean he now feels safer when on his daily trip for a newspaper and walks in nature.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Khuram said: "We got the letter fairly soon and he got his first injection back in December. We were then really worried about the second one being delayed. We were thinking he was going to have to wait even longer but the GP, I don't know how they make the decisions, we said 'Look my dad's got X other conditions, high blood pressure and diabetes and he's lost the sight in one eye because he had a mini stroke in the eye a few years ago'.

"My dad was really happy. I was really happy.

"It's brought colour back to him.

"He went in on Saturday and had his second injection.

"It's been really difficult the past year. My dad was saying, 'You think in such a long life you'd have seen everything' but he's thankful to have lived through this.

"From a family perspective we just feel really happy he's got it, relief.

"One thing that's had an effect is walking outside. He wants to try keep as independent as possible as he's never relied on people doing everything for him. Even this stage in his life, he still wants to get out and do something. It means he can get out, more fresh air. He likes to go and buy his own newspaper."

The first generation Pakistan immigrant who became a Bradford County Court Bailiff described feeling lucky to have the vaccine.

When asked if he experienced any side effects, Khuram said Mr Arabian experienced mild aches on the day of vaccine but felt a lot better in the following days.

In a heartfelt message to those who are apprehensive or mistrusting of the vaccine, Khuram is now urging people to jump at the opportunity of being vaccinated against Covid-19.

"We have to fully trust what the scientists have done," he said.

"I'm not saying the Government's doing it brilliantly but when you're in a situation like this you have to listen to the people in authority and understand what's going on. They have access to information. We tend to look at things like Facebook and Whatsapp and take that as being the truth.

"The scientists, what they've done is amazing to be honest - how quick they've been able to do it.

"We have to listen to the doctors and get the vaccine. My dad has got to the point, both my parents, they look forward to having the [flu] vaccine because they don't want to have the flu. We're going to have to trust otherwise it's always going to be like this."

And, in what would have sounded strange to all of us before the pandemic, the Arabian family has high hopes that they will be able to sit inside as a family again soon; expressing their excitement that the vaccine is the way back to normality.

"Just getting together," Khuram said.

"The small things, I think that's what we miss really. We can all get together in the same room and not think about what somebody might be transmitting."