UK, World's First COVID-19 Vaccination... Humanity's Counterattack After 343 Days (Comprehensive)

90-Year-Old Grandmother "Very Honored"
Nurse "Light at the End of the Tunnel" Remarks
343 Days Since First COVID-19 Report
2.4 Million Vaccinations Expected Within the Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] For the first time in the world, COVID-19 vaccinations began on the morning of the 8th in the UK (local time). It has been 343 days since the emergence of COVID-19. The UK government started vaccinating people aged 80 and over nationwide from this day, using the vaccine jointly developed by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech. Fifty hub hospitals were designated in the England region, and other areas will also begin mass vaccinations centered around hospitals.

First Vaccine Recipient, 90-Year-Old Woman, "The Best Birthday Gift"

The first person to receive the vaccine on this day was 90-year-old British national Margaret Keenan, who was vaccinated at a university hospital in the Coventry area at 6:31 a.m. GMT. Keenan, who became the world's first recipient of the Pfizer vaccine, will turn 91 next week.

Keenan said on the day, "I am so honored to be the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine." She added about the vaccination, "I have received the best birthday gift I could wish for early," and "After spending most of the year alone, I can finally look forward to spending the new year with my family and friends."

Nurses who have worked tirelessly due to COVID-19 also expressed joy. Nurse Parsons, who administered the vaccine, said, "It is a great honor to be able to give the first COVID-19 vaccine to a patient," and "I am very happy to play a role on this historic day." She added, "The past few months have been very difficult for those working in the National Health Service (NHS). But now, it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel."

UK Prime Minister Boris: "Thanks to Medical Staff and Others"

Boris Johnson UK Prime Minister Twitter Capture

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his gratitude on Twitter to healthcare workers, scientists, volunteers who participated in vaccine clinical trials, and everyone involved. Johnson said, "The UK has started the first COVID-19 vaccinations today," adding, "Thanks to the NHS, all the scientists who worked on vaccine development, the volunteers who participated in trials, and everyone who followed regulations to protect others. We can overcome this together."

The UK imported 800,000 doses (enough for 400,000 people) of the Pfizer vaccine produced in Belgium and distributed them to hospitals. An additional 4 million doses, enough to vaccinate 2 million people, are scheduled to be transported within the year. The UK government pre-ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to provide two doses to one-third of the population, or 20 million people. Most of these are expected to be available next year. The next shipment of Pfizer vaccines is expected to arrive next week.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, "Once we receive the vaccines, we will be able to deliver them across the UK," adding, "In care homes, vaccinations will be done as soon as possible, assuming it is safe."

On the 7th, the UK reported 14,718 new confirmed cases, and the total death toll rose by 189 to 61,434. Globally, there have been over 67.939 million confirmed cases and more than 1.55 million deaths so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.