Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old British grandmother, on Tuesday became the first person in the world, outside of clinical trial, to get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine dose. Keenan got the coronavirus vaccine as the National Health Service (NHS) of UK launched its biggest-ever vaccination campaign in the country.
Keenan will turn 91 next week. She was vaccinated on Tuesday Morning at 0631 GMT at her local hospital in Coventry, Central England.
While receiving the shot of vaccine from a nurse who hails from the Philippines in presence of a photographer and TV Crew, Keenan said, "I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19."
She added, "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."
Britain is the first western country to start vaccination of its general population. The country's government is rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech from Tuesday.
With over 61,000 deaths, Britain is the worst-hit country in Europe to use the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, even before the United States and the European Union.
Health Secretary of Britain Matt Hancock and medical director of NHS England, Stephen Powis said it was emotional to watch the vaccine program being implemented.
The country has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Each person requires two doses of the vaccine and the country has a population of 67 million. 40 million are enough to vaccinate 20 million people. Approximately 800,000 doses are expected to be available within the first week of the plan.
