LONDON, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother from Britain, has become the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine outside of a trial following its rapid clinical approval.
She received the jab at her local hospital in Coventry, England, on Tuesday (Dec 8) morning at 6.31am UK time.
Britain began rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday, in what was hailed as a decisive watershed in defeating the coronavirus.
The mass inoculation will fuel hope that the world may be turning a corner in the fight against a pandemic that has crushed economies and killed more than 1.5 million, although ultra-cold storage and tricky logistics will limit its use for now.
“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Keenan.
“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.”
The first patients in line on what has been dubbed “V-Day” – the over-80s, care home workers and at-risk frontline health and social care staff – will roll up their sleeves for an initial dose from early morning.
They will then require a second jab in 21 days’ time.
Last week Britain became the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Britain has been one of the worst-affected countries in the world, with more than 61,000 deaths in the outbreak from 1.6 million cases. — NNN-AGENCIES
