British people receiving the coronavirus vaccine for the first time, in pictures

The first doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine have begun to be distributed in the United Kingdom today, in a landmark moment in the battle against the deadly disease.

90-year-old Margaret Keenan from Coventry was the first person in the world to receive the jab outside of clinical trials at 6:45 am Tuesday morning. 

The vaccine has reportedly been distributed to 50 hospitals across the country with the first phase of the biggest mass vaccination programme in NHS going to the elderly as well as NHS and care home staff.

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, appeared to be in tears on Good Morning Britain, explaining how he now hopes life could begin to return to some sort of normalcy by spring next year and that people should easily be able to travel abroad for their summer holidays. 

However, this is only the first step in the fight against coronavirus and with the colder months coming up, as well the Christmas break, there could still be a spike in cases so safety measures will have to remain in place for several months to come.

That being said, this is still a huge moment and a ray of positivity in an otherwise troubling year. So, to mark the occasion here are some of the best photos from those people who were amongst the first to receive the vaccine on Tuesday.

Margaret Keenan is applauded by nurses after becoming the first person in the world to receive the jab.

William Shakespeare from Warwickshire becomes the second person in the world to have the vaccine administered.

Sister Joanna Sloan becomes the first person in Northern Ireland to receive the jab in Northern Ireland at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

99-year-old Michael Tibbs has his photo taken with his son Philips and chief nurse Liz Rix after receiving the vaccine at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.

Race relations campaigner Dr Hari Shukla and his wife, Ranju read pamphlets on the vaccine before receiving the jab at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Prime minister Boris Johnson speaks to Lyn Wheeler at Guy’s Hospital in London before she receives the jab.

A nurse administers the vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London

Clearly, the affects of the vaccine are already working on Sister Joanna Sloan

Get used to seeing a lot of these stickers in the next few months…

This is what it’s all about…

More: The bizarre ways my smell and taste changed after Covid-19