Coronavirus UK news – Vaccine ‘V-day’ arrives as 90-year-old becomes 1st Brit to get Pfizer covid jab – LIVE UPDATES
THE UK has taken a “huge step forward” in its fight against Covid-19 as our vaccination programme got under way, Boris Johnson has said.
Margaret Keenan, 90, was applauded by staff this morning after becoming the first person in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine.
Speaking from University Hospital, Coventry, Margaret said: “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!”
Vaccinations will be administered at dozens of hospital hubs across the country this morning – dubbed “V-Day” by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
The Prime Minister said he was “immensely proud” of the scientists who have developed the new jab and praised NHS staff for working “tirelessly” to make the vaccine rollout happen.
Patients in the highest risk groups – such as the over 80s – will begin receiving the vaccine today.
Follow our coronavirus live blog below for the very latest news, reaction and updates on the lockdown plans…