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Boris Johnson today called the coronavirus vaccine a “nationwide shot in the arm” and told people who are afraid, “don’t be.”
The prime minister praised the scientists’ achievements as he watched the first knocks at Guy’s Hospital in London, one of 70 NHS centers.
Johnson also criticized anti-vaccines as “totally wrong” and insisted that the Pfizer jab, which the UK is the first country in the world to approve for mass deployment, is safe.
He said, “I would tell everyone who is afraid, don’t be.”
The Prime Minister added: “There is nothing to be nervous about.
(Image: Getty Images)
“What I would say is that there are those who obviously feel that a vaccine is something they object to politically or ideologically.
“I think they are totally wrong. It’s safe, it’s right, it’s good for you and it’s good for the whole country.”
“It’s going to take a while. I urge people to contain their impatience.”
He continued: “It will gradually make a big, big difference, but I emphasize ‘gradually’ because we are not there yet, we have not defeated this virus yet. We cannot afford to relax now.”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said today was a “momentous day in our fight against Covid-19.”
He tweeted: “There is light at the end of the tunnel. It is crucial that we all remain safe by following public health advice.”
(Image: POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Even though the jab is being applied to residents of nursing homes and over 80s, followed by other priority groups, people are being urged to follow social distancing rules.
It takes about a month to gain immunity after the first dose, and even then, scientists still don’t know whether vaccinated people could asymptomatically transmit the coronavirus.
While the government has promised “several million” doses by New Year’s Day, most hits to the 25 million most vulnerable, including those over 50, will only be in the spring.
(Image: Getty Images)
Johnson added: “There is a crucial point that I want to get to people.
“People do not realize how easy it is to transmit this disease asymptomatically, without symptoms.
“1 in 3 people transmit it without even having any symptoms.
“So that you can be a secret spreader of disease. I don’t think people have realized that. It is very important that in the coming weeks everyone understands it. At first we didn’t realize how easily the disease can spread without symptoms. “
It comes after Margaret Keenan, 90, became the first person in the UK to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
(Image: PA)
In historical scenes dubbed ‘V-day’, the grandmother was hit at 6.31am in Coventry.
There are still big questions about when the 40 million doses of Pfizer’s jab will reach the UK and when the lockdown restrictions may begin to be lifted.
The government says “several million” doses will arrive before December 31, but has withdrawn a pledge of 10 million.
Some 25 million people are in priority groups, including all previous squires and all those over 50, and most of them are not expected to get vaccinated until next year.
(Image: Getty Images)
Matt Hancock said that “we still have a march ahead” and it is not yet known whether the vaccine will prevent recipients from transmitting Covid to others.
But when asked if he imagined “we will wear masks for most of next year,” the Health Secretary told LBC: “I don’t think so.
“I think that by spring we should be out of the measures, I really hope.
“And I hope this summer we have a normal summer.
“I think people have gotten used to wearing masks in certain circumstances. I want to live again because of personal responsibility instead of laws that we have had to pass in parliament. And now we can see the route to get back to that. “
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