British grandma first in world to get Pfizer vaccine outside trial; UK expects COVID-19 restrictions lifted in spring 2021- Secretary  

London, Dec. 8, 2020

Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother, on Tuesday became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shot outside of trial as Britain began vaccinating its population.

This is as UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Tuesday told Sky News that the government would start lifting COVID-19 restrictions in spring 2021 after enough vulnerable people are vaccinated.

Britain began rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday, the first Western country to start vaccinating its general population in what was hailed as a decisive watershed in defeating the coronavirus.

“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19,” said Keenan, as she received the jab from a nurse originally from the Philippines in front of a photographer and TV crew.

“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.’’

Keenan, known as Maggie to her friends, is a former jewelry shop assistant who only retired four years ago. She has a daughter, a son and four grandchildren.

Video footage shows her wearing a medical mask along with a blue t-shirt and cardigan while she receives the shot from nurse May Parsons.

UK’s Johnson thanks health workers after COVID vaccine launch

Parsons, who has worked in Britain’s National Health Service for 24 years, said the last few months had been tough on everyone but it felt like there was now light at the end of the tunnel.

Britain is the worst-hit European country from COVID-19, with over 61,000 deaths, though Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes to turn the tide against the disease by rolling out the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine ahead of the United States or European Union.

The mass inoculation would fuel hope that the world may be turning a corner in the fight against a pandemic that has crushed economies and killed more than 1.5 million.

however, the ultra-cold storage and tricky logistics would limit its use for now.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS England, said they both found it very emotional watching the vaccine programme roll out.

The BBC also carried an interview with another elderly lady who would receive the vaccine, very upset after she lost her husband from COVID-19 earlier.

Britain has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot. As each person requires two doses, that is enough to vaccinate 20 million people in the country of 67 million.

About 800,000 doses are expected to be available within the first week, with care home residents and carers, the over 80s and some health service workers the top priority to get them.

“When enough people, who are vulnerable to COVID-19, have been vaccinated, then, of course, we can lift the restrictions,’’ Hancock said in his interview with Sky News, adding that the government expects this to happen in spring 2021.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Tuesday that the United Kingdom was starting vaccination against coronavirus, expressing gratitude to the National Health Service (NHS), volunteers and all those following safety rules.

Earlier, the UK became the first country in the world to grant emergency use approval to a candidate vaccine produced by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech.