[ad_1]
A 90-year-old grandmother who became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer vaccine as part of the mass vaccination rollout was released from the hospital after a “whirlwind” day.
The face of Margaret Keenan, known as Maggie, has made headlines around the world after she was given the coronavirus at Coventry University Hospital on Tuesday.
Ms Keenan, who has lived in Coventry for over 60 years but is originally from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh had been admitted to hospital a few days before her puncture.
She was discharged today at 2pm and left the hospital with her grandson Conor and daughter Sue.
In a statement issued via NHS England, Ms Keenan said: “Yesterday was a huge day for me personally and for the rest of the world as we all seek to return to some kind of normalcy.
“Everything has been a whirlwind and everything has not yet been assimilated. I feel very good and I am very happy to be able to go home and have a good time with my family.
“I would like to thank the hospital and its staff for the care and support they gave me during my stay; they have been truly incredible.
“My family and I are very grateful for the positive comments and good wishes received. I urge everyone to get vaccinated when asked. “
Speaking immediately after receiving the vaccine, administered by midwife May Parsons, the retired jewelry assistant spoke of the “great opportunity” to be offered the vaccine.
She said: “I can’t thank May and the NHS staff enough who have taken such tremendous care of me, and my advice to anyone offering the vaccine is to take it – if I can have it at 90, then you can have it too. “
Ms Keenan, who turns 91 next week, was one of approximately 100 people vaccinated on the first day of the deployment in Coventry.
The second person to receive the injection was 81-year-old William “Bill” Shakespeare, an inpatient in the frailty wards of Coventry Hospital which, appropriately, is local to his namesake’s county of birth, Warwickshire.
Professor Andy Hardy, Executive Director of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: “We were delighted to have the world’s first patient to receive the Covid vaccine and it is thanks to our amazing NHS staff that we were able and ready to start vaccinating. to people, like Maggie, yesterday.
“It’s great news that Maggie is well enough to go home; she really wants to spend time with her family.”
He added: “This is the first step in the largest vaccination program the country has ever faced and it will take months to complete; We will reach out to people when they can be vaccinated, but in the meantime we want to encourage members of the public. to continue to follow current guidelines to help keep everyone safe. “
[ad_2]