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VACCINE-FIRST-BRITAIN 2NDLEAD
Grandmother, 90, gets first Covid jab as UK starts vaccine drive
COVENTRY, United Kingdom, Dec 8, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – A 90-year-old British
grandmother became the first person in a Western country to receive an
approved coronavirus vaccine, as Britain rolled out Pfizer-BioNTech’s drug in
the biggest inoculation drive in its history.
Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, said it was “the best early
birthday present” and added: “My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to
take it. If I can have it at 90 then you can have it too.”
Britain last week became the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccine, raising hopes of a breakthrough in the pandemic, which has killed
more than 1.5 million worldwide.
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.
Keenan received the jab in front of cameras at a hospital in the central
English city of Coventry, followed by an elderly man called William
Shakespeare.
The jab was administered by May Parsons, a nurse originally from the
Philippines who has worked for Britain’s state-run National Health Service
(NHS) for 23 years.
“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19,”
said Keenan, a former jewellery shop worker who has two children and four
grandchildren.
The over-80s, care home workers and at-risk frontline health and social
care staff are first in line to get the jab, on what has been dubbed “V-Day”.
A second jab is required in 21 days.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent days in intensive care with Covid-
19 earlier this year, called it a “huge step forward in the UK’s fight
against coronavirus”.
The head of the state-run National Health Service in England, Simon
Stevens, said it was a “decisive turning point” against the “greatest health
challenge” since the NHS was founded in 1948.
Regulatory approval for the vaccine was given last Wednesday, sparking a
race against time to prepare scores of vaccination centres across the
country.
The UK has ordered 40 million doses of the jab — enough to vaccinate 20
million people — with 800,000 in the first batch.
Up to four million doses are expected by the end of December.
– Queen could lead way –
The mass vaccination drive is a coordinated response by all four nations
of the UK — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — which normally
set their own health policies.
The public has been largely favourable to the rapid approval of the
vaccine, but ministers and health professionals are aware they still need to
combat mistrust.
The independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
maintains that no corners were cut and its assessment and approval procedures
met stringent international norms.
NHS England said thousands had already been given the jab during trials
with no serious side effects.
Nevertheless, it has been reported Queen Elizabeth II, who at 94 is among
those first in the line for the vaccination because of her age, could front a
public awareness campaign urging compliance.
The government said it would hand out vaccine cards to remind people to
get the booster after three weeks, but insisted it was not introducing
immunity certificates.
– ‘Marginal impact’ in winter –
The chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland said the vaccine would as a result only have a “marginal impact” on
hospital numbers over the winter months.
Johnson called for patience and urged the public to stick to strict social
distancing guidelines to prevent a spike in cases, particular as rules are
relaxed over Christmas.
Health officials have already run into a logistical headache about how to
administer the vaccine to elderly or infirm care home residents.
The vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius (-94 Fahrenheit),
leaving hospitals and other medical hubs as the only places able to deal with
such ultra-low temperatures.
With the Pfizer-BioNTech drug made in Belgium, concerns have also been
raised about potential disruption to supply when Britain leaves the European
Union’s single market and customs union.
But the UK government said the military is on stand-by to air-lift the
vaccine if there is any border disruption from January 1. The bulk of
Britain’s vaccine requirements are expected to be met by a jab developed by
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, which is awaiting regulatory
approval.
The government has ordered an initial 100 million doses of the drug, which
is cheaper to manufacture, and easier to store and transport using
conventional fridges.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1530 hrs