The United Kingdom has become the first nation to begin vaccination of COVID-19 with the approved Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Based on studies with about 44,000 participants, the vaccine is 95% effective, and works by sending a molecule known as mRNA (Messenger Ribonucleic Acid) into your cells containing the protein found on the surface of the virus. Your body reads the protein and realizes it does not belong, and your immune system begins building a response and making antibodies. After this happens, if the real virus enters your body the antibodies will recognize it and fight it off.

On Tuesday, December 8, ninety year old UK citizen Margaret Keenan received the first two doses needed for the vaccination. In Keenan’s words, she states, “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.” She also described receiving the shot as a wonderful experience because she knew it was for an amazing cause, and that fact did not make her nervous at all. She strongly encourages others currently eligible for the vaccine to take it. William Shakespeare (known to his friends as Bill), eighty-one, was the second UK citizen to receive the vaccine. Since then others have received the vaccine including Joanna Sloan, the first nurse in Northern Ireland to get it along with Gill Rogers, eighty-six, and George Dyer at Croydon health services. After receiving the vaccine Dyer noted that, “it’s like I’m about to be given a new lease of life, and I cannot wait to get back out there and make myself useful again.”

The distribution of the vaccine in the UK has been increasing, with frontline healthcare workers, the elderly and long-term care residents being given priority. Since distribution started, two people have had allergic reactions; however, the people are known to have a history of ill responses to medicine and the vaccine has been otherwise received quite well. British officials predict it will take until April for all priority groups to be vaccinated, and warn that now is not the time to let their guard down. It will be ages before the entire UK is immunized, but the start of the vaccination process is a massive step forward.