A 90-year-old grandma has become the first patient in the world to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

8 December, 2020 | Filed under: All News,more news,Opinion,RECENT POSTS,Somali news | Posted by:

A 90-year-old grandma has become the first patient in the world to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Margaret Keenan received the jab at 6.31am today in Coventry, marking the start of the NHS’ biggest ever mass vaccination programme.
The vaccines will be administered in dozens of hospitals across the country from today to older people, NHS staff and care home workers – in a historic moment dubbed ‘V-Day’ by the health secretary.

Grandmother Margaret Keenan, 90, became the first patient in the world to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 jab
 It comes after the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, manufactured in Belgium, was approved in the UK lastMrs Keenan, known to family and friends as Maggie, received the injection from nurse May Parsons at her local hospital.

‘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,’ said Maggie.

‘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.’ The former jewellery shop assistant, who only retired four years ago, turns 91 next week. She has a daughter, a son and four grandchildren.

NHS England and NHS Improvement @NHSEngland Meet Maggie: the first person in the world to receive a fully-tested and approved Covid-19 vaccine on the NHS.
Mrs Keenan, known to family and friends as Maggie, received the injection from nurse May Parsons at her local hospital in Coventry (Picture: NHS England)
Margaret Keenan, 90, is applauded by staff as she returns to her ward after becoming the first person in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 8, 2020. The UK is the first country in the world to start vaccinating people with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
Maggie was clapped out of the hospital by staff after receiving the vaccine (Picture: PA)

NHS nurse May Parsons said it was a ‘huge honour’ to be the first in the country to deliver the vaccine. ‘A historic day’ Speaking at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, she said: ‘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.’ May, originally from the Philippines, has worked in the NHS for the last 24 years and been at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire since 2003. Like many around the country, Maggie has been self-isolating for most of this year and is planning on having a very small family ‘bubble’ at Christmas to stay safe. Originally from Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, she has lived in Coventry for more than 60 years. 90-year-old Margaret Keenan receives first dose of Pfizer vaccine.

Margaret Keenan, 90, is the first patient in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry, administered by nurse May Parsons, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 8, 2020. The UK is the first country in the world to start vaccinating people with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
May giving Maggie the first ever approved coronavirus vaccine dose in the world (Picture: PA)

She will receive a booster jab in 21 days to ensure she has the best chance of being protected against the virus. ‘We must not drop our guard’ 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,’ he 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. ‘My colleagues across the health service are rightly proud of this historic moment as we lead in deploying the PfizerBioNTech vaccine.

Nurse May Parsons carries the first Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital Coventry, to be administered to Margaret Keenan, 90, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 8, 2020. The UK is the first country in the world to start vaccinating people with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
May carries the first batch of approved vaccines (Picture: PA)

Margaret Keenan, 90, speaks to the media after becoming the first patient in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry, administered by nurse May Parsons, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday December 8, 2020. The UK is the first country in the world to start vaccinating people with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
Maggie speaking to the media after the injection to encourage everyone to get the vaccine (Picture: PA)

‘I also want to thank Margaret, our first patient to receive the vaccine on the NHS. ‘Today is just the first step in the largest vaccination programme this country has ever seen. It will take some months to complete the work as more vaccine supplies become available and until then we must not drop our guard. ‘But if we all stay vigilant in the weeks and months ahead, we will be able to look back at this as a decisive turning point in the battle against the virus.’ The vaccine is typically delivered by a simple injection in the shoulder, but there is a complex logistical challenge to transport the doses. It needs to be stored at -70C before being thawed out, and can only be moved four times within that cold chain ahead of use.

 

Source:metro.co.uk/