The United Kingdom became the first country in the world to start using the COVID-19 vaccine after regulators approved its use last week. Britain began rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech yesterday. The mass inoculation will 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.
About 70 hospital hubs across the UK are inoculating the people over-80s and some health and care staff. The programme aims to protect the most vulnerable and return life to normal.
87-year-old Dr Hari Shukla of Indian Origin who received one of the first coronavirus vaccines said he felt it was his duty to do whatever he can to help. Dr Shukla, who has nine grandchildren, said he was proud to participate in this very important activity. He said the whole world is looking at us to see how things go. A Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust spokeswoman said a woman in her 90s had come to hospital, having watched the news. The government has issued guidance on the order of priority.
The vaccine is given as two injections, 21 days apart, with full immunity reached seven days after the second dose. It is not yet known how long immunity lasts, or whether it stops people from passing on the virus.
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