This Tuesday morning, at 7:31 a.m. French time, Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive a clinically approved Covid-19 vaccine. Aged 90, she received her first injection at Coventry University Hospital, part of the National Health Service (NHS).
Here we are. The United Kingdom launched its Covid-19 vaccination campaign on Tuesday, December 8. A patientaged 90 (91 next week) Margaret Keenan was the first to receive a vaccine clinically approved against disease, developed by Pfizer/BioNTech Laboratories, at Coventry Hospital in central England.
"I feel so privileged “, she told British media. She also said she was "rushed to be able to see his family again for the New Year holidays, after having received his second injection (in 21 days).
This historic first injection was administered by nurse May Parsons, who has worked for the NHS for 24 years. “It is a huge honor to be the first person in the country to deliver an approved Covid-19 vaccine to a patient. I'm just happy to be able to play a part in this historic day, she said.The past few months have been difficult for all of us working in the NHS. But now we feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel."
A second person, an 81-year-old man (named William Shakespeare), then followed "Maggie" Keenan. Another four million Britons are also expected to be vaccinated by the end of December. The rest of the population will then have to wait until 2021, priority being given to residents and staff of retirement homes, caregivers and the over 80s.
Note that forty million doses vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech have been ordered by the British government. Since two doses are needed to vaccinate one person, this means that twenty million people can be vaccinated on the 67 million inhabitants of the island country. As a reminder, the United Kingdom today lists more than 61,000 deaths related to the epidemic.
“Today marks a huge step forward in the UK's fight against coronavirus “, welcomed the conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “But mass vaccination will take time “, he warned, urging to continue to respect the restrictions in place.
“Today is just the first step in the biggest vaccination program this country has ever seen. It will take a few months to complete the job as more vaccines become available and until then we must not let our guard down "said NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens. “Nevertheless, if we all remain vigilant in the weeks and months to come, we can see this as a watershed moment in the battle against the virus “.
