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The first vaccine against coronavirus has already been administered today.
The NHS has become the world’s first health service to begin the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech.
Jabs will be administered from Tuesday, dubbed ‘V-Day’ by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, at dozens of hospital hubs across the country.
On Tuesday, Grandmother Margaret Keenan, 90, received the jab at about 6.45 am in Coventry, marking the start of a historic programme of mass vaccination.
The vaccine against Covid-19 has been shown to be 95 percent effective and works across all age groups, including the elderly.
It will be the over-80s, care home staff, and health workers among the first people to receive it with the ultimate goal of vaccinating millions of people against coronavirus.
Those receiving today’s vaccination will need another jab in 21 days.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Today marks an enormous step forward in the fight against coronavirus in the United Kingdom as we begin to deliver the vaccine to the first patients nationwide.”
I am proud of the scientists who have developed the vaccine, the members of the public who have participated in the trials, and the NHS who have been working tirelessly to prepare for the rollout.
But it will take time for mass vaccinations, and we must remain clear-eyed about the challenges that remain.
“As the programme ramps up in the weeks and months ahead, it is as important as ever to keep to the Covid winter plan – following the rules in your area and remember the basics of hands, face, and space.”
Some 800,000 doses of the vaccine, sufficient for 400,000 individuals, have been delivered to UK hospital hubs, but it is unclear when more doses will come from the manufacturer.
Overall, the United Kingdom has secured 40 million Pfizer vaccine doses, which is sufficient for 20 million people.