Historic day for the UK: first patient to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Starting Tuesday, called V-Day, the first patients over the age of 80 will be vaccinated, including nursing home workers and health and social care workers most at risk of coronavirus infection.

Skynews reports that around 6:30 pm local time, the vaccine was administered to the first patient, Margaret Keenan, 90.

“I am honored to have been the first person to be vaccinated against COVID-19, it is like an early birthday present. This means that in a lonely year I will finally be able to meet my loved ones ”, said the woman.

Keenan will turn 91 next week.

“I am grateful to the staff at MM Parsons and the NHS who have cared about me, and to everyone who is offered a taunt, I advise you to accept the offer; if I can do it at 90, you can too,” she said. .

After the first dose of the vaccine, a second vaccine will be needed 21 days later.

Last week, the United Kingdom became the first country to allow the use of a coronavirus vaccine developed by the US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and the German company BioNTech. This has fueled hopes of a possible breakthrough in the attempt to curb a pandemic that has already cost more than 1.5 million people worldwide. lives.

The United Kingdom is one of the countries most affected in the world by a pandemic. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, 1.6 million cases of infection, more than 61 thousand. people have died from this disease.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent three nights in the intensive care unit earlier this year with COVID-19, called the launch of the vaccination program “a major step forward in the UK’s fight against coronavirus.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who volunteered to be vaccinated live on television to allay public concern about the safety of the new drug, said the start of vaccination was an “important moment” to protect the most vulnerable.

“Let’s do it!” Hancock urged on Twitter.

It’s V-day.

Thanks to everyone who has made it possible, from @MHRAgovuk doctors, NHS administrative staff, doctors, nurses, everyone who volunteered for the trials and those who took the hit today.
Let’s get this over with! pic.twitter.com/fDixTMDXip
– Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 8, 2020

Simon Stevens, head of England’s National Health Service (NHS), said it was a “crucial turning point” in tackling the “biggest health challenge” since the NHS was founded in 1948.

It has rushed to set up dozens of vaccination centers across the country since the UK supervisory authority turned on the green light to use the vaccine last Wednesday.

Britain has asked for 40 million. dose of 20 million. people. The first batch consists of 800 thousand. dose of vaccine.

It is expected to receive up to 4 million by the end of December. dose of vaccine.