90-year-old Margaret Keenan from the UK became the first to receive the Pfizer and BioNTech developed COVID vaccine on Tuesday. She received it as a part of a global immunization program that is expected to gain momentum as more serums win approval. At 6:31 am GMT early riser Maggie was given the life-saving jab by nurse May Parsons at her local hospital in Coventry to mark what the National Health Service (NHS) has dubbed a “landmark moment” on V-Day or Vaccine Day in the fight against the deadly virus.
“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19,” said Keenan as reported by Reuters. “It’s the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year.”
Margaret, a former jewellery shop assistant, received the shot at University Hospital Coventry at 6:31 a.m. while wearing a surgical mask and a blue Merry Christmas T-shirt decorated with a cartoon penguin wearing a Santa hat and red scarf.
Meanwhile, “Taming of the flu: William Shakespeare becomes the second person to get Covid vaccine,” quipped the headline from Britain’s Independent newspaper. Health secretary Matt Hancock also had a laugh on live television that the second person to receive the vaccine was named William Shakespeare, insisting the vaccine roll-out “makes you so proud to be British”.
Today the first vaccinations in the UK against COVID-19 begin. Thank you to our NHS, to all of the scientists who worked so hard to develop this vaccine, to all the volunteers – and to everyone who has been following the rules to protect others. We will beat this together. https://t.co/poOYG1vHQe
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 8, 2020