A British grandmother has become the first person in the world to receive Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine. 

Margaret Keenan, 90, received the Covid-19 jab on Tuesday at around 6.45am at Coventry to signal the commencement of mass vaccination programme in the UK.

British health secretary Matt Hancock said the Coronavirus jabs will be administered at dozens of hospitals across the European country from Tuesday.

Mrs Keenan, who has lived in Coventry for more than 60 years, received the vaccine from nurse May Parsons at a local hospital she regularly visits.

She is a former jewellery shop attendant and turns 91 in the next one week but only retired four years ago and has a daughter, a son and four grandchildren.

Read More

  1. 'Invested in Your Story': Absa launches campaign to boost client engagement
  2. Kenya targets adventure tourism boom through public-private collaboration
  3. Kenya sets its eyes on local vaccine production as it officially joins IVI

"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,” she said.

Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS England CEO, lauded all the people involved in delivering the new vaccine programmein the UK.

He said, “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.”

Up to four million people, including the elderly and some healthcare workers who are considered among the most vulnerable populations, are set to receive the vaccine in the UK by the end of December.

UK has placed orders for 40 million doses, sufficient to immunise 20 million people, since the jab has to be administered in two doses for one to develop immunity against Coronavirus. 

More than 67 million cases of Covid-19 and 1.5 million deaths have been recorded since the first case of the virus was confirmed last year.

UK is the worst-hit country in Europe with more than 61,000 deaths.