Britain has become the first nation to conduct a mass inoculation campaign using a fully tested Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, kicking off a global effort to fight Covid-19.
Britain on Tuesday began the biggest vaccination programme in the country’s history with Doctors, nurses, people over 80 and nursing home workers among the first to roll up their sleeves for an initial dose.
The recipients will then require to take a second jab in 21 days’ time.
Last week, Britain became the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, raising hopes of a breakthrough in the pandemic, which has killed more than 1.5 million worldwide.
Britain has been one of the worst-affected countries in the world, with more than 61,000 deaths in the outbreak from 1.6 million cases.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spent days in intensive care with Covid-19 earlier this year, called it a “huge step forward in the UK’s fight against coronavirus”.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has offered to have the jab on live television to allay public fears, said the roll-out was a “key moment” that would protect the most vulnerable.
The head of the state-run National Health Service in England, Simon Stevens, said it was a “decisive turning point” against the “greatest health challenge” since the NHS was founded in 1948.
Regulatory approval for the vaccine was given last Wednesday, sparking a race against time to prepare scores of vaccination centres across the country.
The UK has ordered 40 million doses of the jab, enough to vaccinate 20 million people with 800,000 in the first batch.
The mass vaccination drive is a coordinated response by all four nations of the UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which normally set their own health policies.
The independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency maintains that no corners were cut and its assessment and approval procedures met stringent international norms.
NHS England said thousands had already been given the vaccine during trials with no serious side effects.
It has also been reported that Queen Elizabeth II (94) is among those first in the line for the vaccination because of her age, could front a public awareness campaign urging compliance.
The government said it will hand out vaccine cards to remind people to get the booster after three weeks, but insisted it was not introducing immunity certificates.
Nevertheless, PM Johnson called for patience and urged the public to stick to strict social distancing guidelines to prevent a spike in cases, particular as rules are relaxed over Christmas.