Coronavirus Vaccine: Coventry patient is first in the world to receive vaccine
90 year-old Margaret Keenan got the jab this morning
Last updated 8th Dec 2020
A grandmother from Coventry has become the first person in the world to receive Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine as the NHS embarks on a mass vaccination programme.
Margaret Keenan, 90, received the jab at UHCW on Tuesday, marking the start of a phased rollout of the vaccine to older people, NHS staff and care home workers.
Jabs will be administered at dozens of hospital hubs across the country from Tuesday - dubbed 'V-Day' by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Mrs Keenan said:
"I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19, it's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year.
"I can't thank May and the NHS staff enough who have looked after me tremendously, and my advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it - if I can have it at 90 then you can have it too.''
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens praised all those involved in delivering the new vaccine programme.
"Less than a year after the first case of this new disease was diagnosed, the NHS has now delivered the first clinically approved Covid-19 vaccination - that is a remarkable achievement,'' Sir Simon said.
"A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who has made this a reality - the scientists and doctors who worked tirelessly, and the volunteers who selflessly took part in the trials. They have achieved in months what normally takes years.
"I also want to thank Margaret, our first patient to receive the vaccine on the NHS.''
Mrs Keenan has been self-isolating for most of this year and is planning on having a very small family 'bubble' Christmas to keep safe.
She will receive a booster jab in 21 days to ensure she has the best chance of being protected against the virus.
NHS nurse May Parsons said it was a 'huge honour' to be the first in the country to deliver the vaccine to a patient.
'It's a huge honour to be the first person in the country to deliver a Covid-19 jab to a patient, I'm just glad that I'm able to play a part in this historic day.
"The last few months have been tough for all of us working in the NHS, but now it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel.''
We now also know who the second person is to have received the vaccine at UHCW this morning.
81 year-old 'Bill' William Shakespeare from Warwickshire had the jab after Margaret.
The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme will see patients aged 80 and above who are already attending hospital as an outpatient, and those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, among the first to receive the jab.
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