Opinion: ‘We can hope for a lifting of the shadow...’

Medical staff cheer as Margaret Keenan gets the first vaccine.

The past year has been unlike any other.

We have lived under the shadow of a deadly virus which has affected each and everyone of us in many aspects of our lives.

I want to say a huge thank you to all those working in the NHS and so many others who have continued working in these difficult times.

We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.

A major difficulty in the past year has been the inability to meet loved ones and friends.

While modern communication methods have allowed contact to be maintained, it is nowhere like a proper meeting, with a few hugs for good measure.

Christmas is a time to be shared with family and friends, a time for joy and happiness so not being able to meet and see loved ones will be hugely disappointing for many people.

Christmas is however a time of hope, and the vaccine for COVID-19 offers optimism for 2021.

As more and more people take the vaccine so we can hope for a lifting of the shadow and a return to normality.

But in the meantime, we must remain vigilant.

Christmas is also a time when we look out for the lonely and vulnerable and that is especially so this year.

I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and let us all hope for a better and safer 2021.