Grandmother Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week became the first recipient of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday, December 8, as a mass vaccination programme begins. She received the shot at University Hospital Coventry. Keenan said she felt “so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19.” The UK is now the first country in the world to start using the Pfizer vaccine after regulators approved its use last week. About 70 hospital hubs across the UK are gearing up to give the Pfizer/BioNTech jab to the over-80s and some health and care staff. The programme aims to protect the most vulnerable and return life to normal. Vaccination will not be compulsory. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was now light at the end of the tunnel. We will look back on today, as a key moment in our fight back against this terrible disease, he added. Those administering the vaccine will be the first to receive jabs in Scotland, while health workers will be first in line in Wales and Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: Today marks a huge step forward in the UKs fight against coronavirus. NHS Englands chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said the vaccinations were a decisive turning point in the battle against coronavirus and will continue at least until spring, urging people to be very careful before then. More than 60,000 people in the UK have died after being infected with Covid-19, according to government figures. The government has secured 800,000 doses of this vaccine to start with, but orders have been placed for 40 million in total, enough for 20 million people as two courses are needed. The majority of that is not expected to become available until next year, although government sources said another four million doses should arrive in the country by the end of the year. Refrigerated containers holding the vaccine doses have been arriving in the UK over the past few days from Belgium, where it is made, and sent to the network of hospitals that will carry out the vaccinations, executive Sir Simon Stevens said the vaccinations were a decisive turning point in the battle against coronavirus and will continue at least until spring, urging people to be very careful before then. More than 60,000 people in the UK have died after being infected with Covid-19, according to government figures. The government has secured 800,000 doses of this vaccine to start with, but orders have been placed for 40 million in total, enough for 20 million people as two courses are needed. The majority of that is not expected to become available until next year, although government sources said another four million doses should arrive in the country by the end of the year. Refrigerated containers holding the vaccine doses have been arriving in the UK over the past few days from Belgium, where it is made, and sent to the network of hospitals that will carry out the vaccinations.
