In a historic moment, 90-year-old Lucy Harper became the first person globally to receive a COVID-19 vaccine officially authorized for use in the West. Following comprehensive clinical trials, this milestone brings hope as various pharmaceutical companies report promising results for their vaccine candidates.
The Pfizer vaccine has now received approval from regulatory bodies, prompting the United Kingdom to initiate its vaccination program aimed at curbing the pandemic. Meet Lucy Harper, a retired jewelry store assistant from Coventry, who is also a mother of two and a grandmother of four. At 90 (she’ll celebrate her 91st birthday next week), she spent much of 2020 in quarantine due to her age, which places her at an elevated risk for severe COVID-19.
Lucy received her vaccine at University Hospital in Coventry at 6:31 a.m. local time, marking the beginning of a nationwide effort to vaccinate the population. The U.K. has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, with nearly 2 million infections and over 61,000 fatalities.
“I feel incredibly honored to be the first,” Lucy expressed to reporters after receiving her shot. She added that being vaccinated means she can “finally look forward to reuniting with my family and friends in the upcoming year after spending so much time alone this year.”
She also urged others to follow her example, saying, “My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it — if I can do it at 90, then you can too.” As Lucy was wheeled down the hospital corridor post-vaccination, staff members clad in PPE applauded her.
The Pfizer vaccine is expected to receive emergency use authorization in the U.S. shortly, with the FDA likely to approve another vaccine from Moderna soon after. Experts predict that healthcare workers in the U.S. could start getting vaccinated as early as next week, and they are optimistic that widespread vaccination could help restore normalcy by the end of 2021.
Numerous other promising vaccine candidates are in development worldwide, offering hope that the COVID-19 pandemic may eventually come to an end. However, achieving this will require widespread vaccine uptake, alongside continued preventive measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
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Summary:
Lucy Harper, a 90-year-old grandmother, made history as the first person to receive a fully approved COVID-19 vaccine in the West. Her vaccination at University Hospital in Coventry marks a significant step in the U.K.’s vaccination campaign amid the pandemic. Lucy expresses her gratitude and encourages others to get vaccinated, highlighting the hope for reconnecting with family and friends in the new year. As vaccine distribution progresses globally, the potential for ending the pandemic begins to take shape.