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Great Britain was the first European country to initiate corona vaccination. Britain’s vaccination campaign began around 7:30 am on Tuesday morning.
Margaret Keenan was the first person to receive the BNT162b2 vaccine against Covid-19 developed by the Mainz-based company Biontech. The 90-year-old grandmother, practically locked up since March and unable to see her family, was delighted with “the best that happened.” He called on his compatriots to also get vaccinated: “If I can do that, you can too.” Margaret Keenan, everyone just calls “Maggie”, will get a second dose in three weeks. Then you can celebrate the New Year with your loved ones.
“The delivery of the vaccine,” said Sir Simon Stevens, general manager of NHS England, “marks a crucial turning point in the fight against the pandemic.” The British are the first in the world to start immunizing with BNT162b2, because the national drug agency MHRA granted emergency approval to the vaccine provided by Biontech and the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer last week. BNT162b2 is believed to be safe and effective. The European supervisory authority EMA is still in control and wants to make a decision by December 29 at the latest (see also the article on the right). Other active ingredients, such as the Oxford vaccine, are also pending approval.
Mass immunization in Britain is a big logistical challenge, the vaccine must be stored at minus 70 degrees, which is currently only possible in the 50 hospitals that serve as vaccination centers and have adequate refrigeration facilities. According to the priority list developed by the Expert Committee for Vaccination Protection (JCVI), residents of nursing homes and their carers should be vaccinated first. That becomes difficult if a frozen chain is not guaranteed. NHS staff in front-line hospitals, the elderly and those at risk will now also be among those receiving the vaccine as a priority. The UK has already received 800,000 cans from Pfizer and another four million cans will be delivered before the end of the year.
- Video: The UK is the first country in Western Europe to have an approved vaccine. In 50 hospitals, British and Northern Irish people can now get vaccinated according to their priority.
No compulsory vaccination
It is still questionable how many Brits want to participate. Polls show that about a fifth have reservations. Since there should be no mandatory vaccination, something like this “is not our way,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, it all depends on voluntary participation.
Elizabeth II should set a good example. The 94-year-old queen and her 99-year-old prince consort Felipe will soon receive the vaccine, media reports said. You want to avoid any jostling appearances, but the two royals certainly belong in the first priority group due to their age.
The monarch had already been able to dispel national skepticism about vaccination once before. When there was great public concern about polio vaccination in 1957, the young queen announced that she had vaccinated her two children, Charles and Anne, against polio. The move had quickly convinced his subjects of the vaccine’s safety.
Even today, the NHS is concerned about the scare tactics of so-called anti-Vaxxers, that is, opponents of vaccination, and wants to start a counter-campaign. Celebrities such as the aging naturalist David Attenborough, the music star Bob Geldof or the legend of Monty Python Michael Palin have already expressed their willingness to set a good example and get vaccinated.
Article of
Jochen wittmann
