On December 7th, 2020, Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old woman, was the first non-clinical trial volunteer to get the Pfizer Vaccine, which the UK approved on December 3rd, 2020. The UK was one of the first nations to approve a COVID-19 Vaccine in the world. During her BBC Interview, Margaret Keenan exclaimed that “I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19.” In that same interview with BBC News Mrs. Keenan added that “My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it. If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too.” Mrs. Keenan was the first of many people in the UK and worldwide who will get vaccinated for the COVID-19 Virus.
December 7th, 2020, was a momentous day in the UK and worldwide because it was the beginning of the end of this pandemic, which left many emotional and reminiscent of the pandemic. Many in the UK started dubbing December 7th “V-Day” to celebrate the first day of administering the life-changing vaccine. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was present at the hospital where the first vaccines were being given and said the vaccine was “good for you and good for the whole country.”
In the US, the Pfizer Vaccines first day of vaccination was on December 13th, 2020. The very first vaccination occurred at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York City. The first person in the US to be vaccinated was Sandra Lindsay, a New York City Critical Care Nurse. According to the Washington Post, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo watched the first vaccinations from his office. And told Sandra Lindsay after her injection quote, “Sandra, you didn’t flinch.” and she responded, “It didn’t feel any different than taking any other vaccine.”
Her explaining on live television on how it felt like any other vaccine is critical. In the US, many people are hesitant to take the vaccine because many believe it was rushed through the FDA’s approval process. Governor Cuomo believes this vaccine would help the US defeat the coronavirus as the first responders and health care workers are beginning to be vaccinated. Which will lead to a steady recovery and let us get back into the “New Normal.”
Articles Used-
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55227325
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-begins-rollout-of-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-in-a-first-for-the-west-11607419672
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03441-8
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/14/first-covid-vaccines-new-york/