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UK starts vaccinating - 18th December 2020

Britain has hailed a landmark moment in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic as it became the first nation to authorise and roll out the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to the public. Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, was present at Guy's Hospital in London to witness what has been dubbed "V Day". He emphasised just how crucial getting the vaccination was.

Johnson: "One in three people is passing it on without even having any symptoms at all yourself. Do you see what I mean? So you can be a secret spreader of the disease, and I don’t think people have grasped that. And it’s very, very important in the weeks ahead that everybody understands that."

To develop full immunity, a second jab is required three weeks after patients receive their first dose of vaccine. With 40 million doses purchased, the UK will be able to immunise 20 million people. The first dose in the country was given to 90 year old grandmother Margaret Keenan.

Keenan: "At the moment I don't know how I feel. It’s just so, just so strange and so wonderful really. Yes. Anyway, this is for a good cause so I'm so pleased I had it done."

The government’s vaccination programme is prioritising those who need it most: care home workers, at-risk frontline health workers, and the over 80s. It is hoped that Queen Elizabeth, who at 94 is among those first in line for the vaccination, could be the face of a publicity campaign to urge others to follow her example.

Around the world, other vaccines are under development in a global effort to put an end to the pandemic at the earliest possible moment.