On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 7:31 a.m. French time, Margaret Keenan, aged 90, became the first person globally to receive a clinically approved COVID-19 vaccine at Coventry University Hospital, part of the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
The United Kingdom launched its nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign that day. Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 the following week, was the first to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the hospital in central England.
"I feel so privileged," she told British media. She added that she was eager to spend the New Year holidays with her family after her second dose in 21 days.
The injection was administered by nurse May Parsons, an NHS veteran of 24 years. "It is a huge honor to be the first person in the country to deliver an approved COVID-19 vaccine to a patient," she said. "I'm just happy to play a part in this historic day. The past few months have been difficult for all of us in the NHS, but now we feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel."
Next was 81-year-old William Shakespeare, following "Maggie" Keenan. Around four million Britons were expected to be vaccinated by month's end, with priority for retirement home residents and staff, caregivers, and those over 80. The wider rollout continued into 2021.
The UK government ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, enough for 20 million people among its 67 million population. The country had reported over 61,000 COVID-19 deaths at the time.
"Today marks a huge step forward in the UK's fight against coronavirus," said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He cautioned, "Mass vaccination will take time," urging continued adherence to restrictions.
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens noted, "Today is just the first step in the biggest vaccination program this country has ever seen. It will take months to complete as more vaccines become available, and until then, we must not let our guard down." He added, "If we all remain vigilant, this can be a watershed moment in the battle against the virus."
