Margaret Keenan, 90, became the first person to be vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine early Tuesday, but the second person to receive it also made headlines and tickled some funny bones, the reason: her name is William Shakespeare.
They both received the vaccine at Coventry University Hospital in the Midlands, not far from Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the better-known Bard of Avon. The current Shakespeare is 81 years old, making him eligible to be in the first group to receive the vaccine.
His name sparked a lot of buzz and creativity on social media, evidence that there is a lot to a name. The image of Shakespeare receiving the vaccine was widely shared, with comments such as: ‘The Taming of the Flu’ and ‘The Two Knights of the Crown’.
One commenter wondered if Keenan was called Patient 1A, would Shakespeare be “Patient 2B or not 2B?” Another said he was “glad that he (Shakespeare) wasn’t Bard for having it,” and some hoped that “in a world where people hardly ever remember who came second, the second person to receive the Covid jab. it could stick in the memory. “
Health Secretary Matt Hancock also laughed on live television that the second person to receive the vaccine was named William Shakespeare, insisting that the implementation of the vaccine “makes you proud to be British.”
Among those who lined up to get the vaccine for the first time are Hari Shukla, a retired teacher and race relations activist in the north of England, and his wife, Ranjan, 83, at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
They are among those over 80 years of age prioritized to receive the first of 800,000 doses at 50 hospitals across the UK. The vaccine is given in two doses, 21 days apart.
Awarded royal honors from MBE, OBE and CBE for his work on race relations, Ugandan-born Shukla said: “I am delighted to do my bit by receiving the vaccine, I feel it is my duty to do so and do what whatever I can help. I feel very comfortable and happy to be the first ”.
“As for me, I am excited about it. We have been waiting for this vaccine for a long time. Having been in contact with NHS staff, I know how hard they all work and I am grateful for all they have done to keep us safe during the pandemic. “
The UK has ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine and is expected to receive 4 million more by the end of this month. The UK regulator is also evaluating clinical data from University of Oxford / AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccine candidates.
Shukla, widely viewed as a local hero, added: “We hope everyone participates and returns to normal. I have been following the news and our scientists have done a wonderful job. I have no doubt that they are the best in the world. “
The UK health authorities are giving wide publicity to various people, including Shukla and Ranjan, receiving the vaccine to overcome vaccine anxiety among some people, as well as content on social media.
Queen Elizabeth, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, are also expected to be among the first to receive the vaccine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Today marks a great step forward in the UK’s fight against coronavirus. As the program intensifies over the next several weeks and months, it is just as important as ever to stick with Covid’s winter plan – follow the rules for your area and remember the basics of hands, face, and space. “
Simon Stevens, Executive Director of NHS England, called the start of the vaccine program a ‘turning point’, saying: ‘The rollout of this vaccine marks a decisive turning point in the battle against the pandemic. The NHS vaccination programs that have successfully helped overcome tuberculosis, polio and smallpox now focus on the coronavirus. “
As of Monday night, 61,434 people have died in UK hospitals and nursing homes, making it the worst affected country in Europe, including more than 1,000 people of Indian origin. The number of cases has risen to 17,37,960.
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