90-year-old Margaret Keenan, the first patient in the UK to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Jacob King/AP

Gulf Today Report

Britain on Tuesday began the biggest vaccination programme in the country as Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother from Britain, has become the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine outside of a trial following its rapid clinical approval.

A week before she turns 91 the historic inoculation was given to Keenan at her local hospital in Coventry, central England, on Tuesday morning at 0631 GMT.

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

Vials and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration. Reuters

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.

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, although ultra-cold storage and tricky logistics will limit its use for now.

“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19,” said Keenan.

“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.”