Shirley Ballas, 60, has had the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine

Shirley Ballas has had her first dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 60, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a video showing her being given the vaccine by a medical professional at her local GP surgery.

Showing the vaccine was perfectly safe, Shirley encouraged her followers ‘young and old’ to get it when they are eligible to do so.

Vaccinated: Shirley Ballas, 60, revealed on Thursday that she has had the first dose of the  Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine as she encouraged others ‘young and old’ to get it when they can

Speaking to followers before getting her first dose, she said: ‘Hi everybody, I am absolutely delighted to be getting the Pfizer vaccine. So here it goes.’

Shirley then waited as the medical professional gave her the vaccine, and she said she ‘didn’t feel anything’ which was ‘absolutely amazing.’

She went on: ‘I’m encouraging everybody to get their vaccine and then in three months you get another one. So to all of you, stay healthy and get your vaccine.’

Support: Shirley shared a video showing her being given the vaccine by a medical professional to show the vaccine was perfectly safe

Support: Shirley shared a video showing her being given the vaccine by a medical professional to show the vaccine was perfectly safe

Grateful: Speaking to followers before getting her first dose, she said: 'I am absolutely delighted to be getting the Pfizer vaccine. So here it goes'

You should do it too: She went on: 'I'm encouraging everybody to get their vaccine and then in three months you get another one. So to all of you, stay healthy and get your vaccine'

Grateful: Speaking to followers before getting her first dose, she said: ‘I am absolutely delighted to be getting the Pfizer vaccine. So here it goes’

Delighted: Shirley then waited as the medical professional gave her the vaccine, and she said she 'didn't feel anything' which was 'absolutely amazing'

Delighted: Shirley then waited as the medical professional gave her the vaccine, and she said she ‘didn’t feel anything’ which was ‘absolutely amazing’

Shirley continued to advise her followers in the caption of her video, saying: ‘At last my turn has come to get my vaccine. I’m totally impressed with my clinic. 

‘Straight in , totally organized helpful in every way possible. A little quick jab didn’t hurt at all. Friendly atmosphere with everyone on the same journey. 

‘I urge everyone young and old and everyone in between to take the vaccine. If we all do this together we can get back to some sort of normality. We are all in this together.’

She also shared a picture of NHS guide to the vaccine, and a card she was given to show she had her first dose. 

Encouragement: Shirley continued to advise her followers in the caption of her video, saying: 'I urge everyone young and old and everyone in between to take the vaccine'

Encouragement: Shirley continued to advise her followers in the caption of her video, saying: ‘I urge everyone young and old and everyone in between to take the vaccine’

Official: Shirley also shared a picture of NHS guide to the vaccine, and a card she was given to show she had her first dose

Official: Shirley also shared a picture of NHS guide to the vaccine, and a card she was given to show she had her first dose

Earlier this month, Shirley admitted she turned to her counsellor for support after being inundated with messages from people struggling with their mental health during lockdown

The judge returned to therapy in 2020 after feeling ‘overwhelmed’ while writing her warts-and-all memoir, Behind The Sequins: My Life. 

And she admits to using her sessions for advice on how to help others after receiving a flurry of desperate messages from followers across social media. 

Here to help: Earlier this month, Shirley admitted she turned to her counsellor for support after being inundated with messages from people struggling with their mental health at home

Here to help: Earlier this month, Shirley admitted she turned to her counsellor for support after being inundated with messages from people struggling with their mental health at home

Appearing on Morning Live, she explained: ‘Some are kind of in a bad place, they can’t handle lockdown, they become suicidal and one thing after another.

‘So I thought that I would get some more counselling, to learn some more tools, put my own feelings aside and then try to help the other people who are direct messaging me, which I love by the way, and I feel I’ve steered many people in the right direction.’ 

The professional dancer attempts to lift spirits by leading an online dance class every Tuesday and Thursday, with boyfriend Danny Taylor often getting involved.  

She added: ‘I’m not a counsellor, but I can be there as a support for people, I can make them laugh on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. 

‘I’ve been teaching Danny to dance, my boyfriend, and anybody can dance and move, and it makes you feel better. 

‘But actually going to a counsellor again and saying help me with these tools so I can help other people was very important.’  

Advice: Appearing on Morning Live, she explained: 'They become suicidal and one thing after another. So I thought that I would get some more counselling, to learn some more tools'

Advice: Appearing on Morning Live, she explained: ‘They become suicidal and one thing after another. So I thought that I would get some more counselling, to learn some more tools’