Boris Johnson hails ‘very exciting’ Covid vaccine roll out during hospital visit

8 December 2020, 10:31 | Updated: 8 December 2020, 10:47

Boris Johnson 'excited' to see Covid-19 vaccine rolled out across UK

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Boris Johnson has met some of the first people to be vaccinated against coronavirus outside of clinical trials, describing the experience as “very, very exciting”.

Speaking at the vaccination centre at Guy's Hospital in London, the Prime Minister said it was moving to talk to Lyn Wheeler, who was the first to receive the vaccine there.

Mrs Wheeler, 81, from Bromley, was given the vaccine in front of Mr Johnson and when he asked her how it had been she said: "It's all for Britain."

READ MORE: 'V-Day': Covid vaccine roll out gets under way across the UK

READ MORE: Who will get the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine first in the UK?

He said: "It was very, very exciting just to talk to Lyn about the vaccine that she has just taken.

"She is 81 and it is really very moving to hear her say she is doing it for Britain, which is exactly right - she is protecting herself but also helping to protect the entire country."

Boris Johnson applauds as Lyn Wheeler receives the coronavirus vaccine
Boris Johnson applauds as Lyn Wheeler receives the coronavirus vaccine. Picture: PA

Mrs Wheeler was given a round of applause after receiving the vaccination.

On Tuesday, the NHS became the first health service in the world to initiate a Covid-19 mass vaccination programme for a clinically approved jab.

Boris Johnson talks to Mrs Wheeler at Guy's Hospital in London
Boris Johnson talks to Mrs Wheeler at Guy's Hospital in London. Picture: PA

Jabs will be administered at dozens of hospital hubs across the country over the coming weeks and months.

The first person to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine outside a trial was 90-year-old Margaret Keenan.

Grandmother given guard of honour after receiving first Covid-19 vaccine in UK

Mr Johnson warned that, while the vaccination programme will make a "huge difference", it will take time to vaccinate everyone.

He said people should not be afraid of getting vaccinated, and that people objecting to having the jab are "totally wrong".

He said: "To all those who are scared (of getting vaccinated) - don't be. You have seen Lyn (Wheeler) take it, you have seen people take the vaccine this morning in large numbers.

"There's nothing to be nervous about.”

He added: "What I would say is that there are those obviously who feel that a vaccine is something they object to politically or for ideological reasons.

"I think they are totally wrong. It's safe, it's the right thing to do, it's good for you and it's good for the whole country.

Matt Hancock says there is a tear in his eye at the sight of the first vaccine being given

"It's going to take a while. I urge people to contain their impatience."

Mrs Wheeler said it had been "lovely" to take part in the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

"It's all a bit unreal at the moment but it's lovely to take part in what I feel is very valuable work," she said.

"We have got to do something, we can't go on as we are. We can't continually go around being afraid to go to the shops or being afraid to sit on a bus."

She added she hoped that her having the jab will encourage other people to have it too.

She said: "You have got to realise that life is a bit if a risk and you can't keep hiding away, you have to stand up and go for things.

"I'm going for it because I feel there's no other way forward, we can't keep sitting in our houses."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Labour divided over assisted dying as MP who introduced bill hits out at Health Secretary

Labour divided over assisted dying bill as MP tabling legislation labels Wes Streeting's objections 'disappointing'

Reverend Sue Colman was asked to step back after the Makin Report found her and her husband Jason knew about John Smyth's abuse and failed to act

Mustard heir and Church of England minister wife step back from church roles after damning abuse report

File photo of Broadway Market, where the attack took place

Horror as 'man doused in bleach' in busy Hackney market with manhunt underway and attacker still at loose

Former Met Police officer David Carrick pleads not guilty to string of sex attacks including indecent assault against teen

Former Met Police officer David Carrick pleads not guilty to sex attacks including indecent assault against teen

Jack Bradley took part in the failed ram raid

Moment drug addict in 4x4 rams Tesco superstore in failed bid to steal safe, with terrified staff still inside shop

ZM712, a Boeing Apache AH2 operated by the UK's Army Air Corps, departing from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England after participating in the Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 (RIAT24).

Drunken soldiers caught during Apache cockpit romp spark military safety review

Eva Longoria, a Texas native, has said she is 'done' with the US after Trump's second election win

Eva Longoria reveals she has fled 'dystopian' America as Trump names radical right wing cabinet

Dog-free zones should be introduced to tackle racism, the Welsh government has been told.

Dog-free zones needed in countryside to tackle racism, Welsh government told

A 'major' suspected people smugger has been arrested in Amsterdam

'Major' Turkish supplier of small boats for Channel migrant crossings arrested as 'British FBI' swoop in airport

Clifton Suspension Bridge has quit Elon Musk's X after 15 years on the site.

Clifton suspension bridge dramatically departs from Twitter sparking wave of online jokes

Exclusive
Students take gap years and ‘neglect studies’ as survey suggests Edinburgh rents skyrocketed by nearly two thirds in a year.

Students take gap years and ‘neglect studies’ as survey suggests Edinburgh rents skyrocketed by nearly two thirds in a year

Two Just Stop Oil protesters charged over June's incident

Two Just Stop Oil activists charged after orange paint thrown over Stonehenge

Man arrested after reports of person carrying knives outside Houses of Parliament

Man charged with carrying offensive weapons after 'knife' incident near Parliament

Exclusive
Michael Harris died in an e-scooter crash

'My best friend was killed in an e-scooter crash - I'm urging the government not to legalise them for use on roads'

Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, from Southwark, was pronounced dead at the scene in East Street, Walworth.

First picture of Walworth market 'knife rampage' victim as suspect appears in court

Police at Gainsborough Care Home in Swanage where three people died and seven people were taken to hospital

Woman arrested over Dorset care home deaths released without charge