I KNOW I wasn’t the only one to feel tearful seeing people receive the Covid vaccination on “V-Day” yesterday morning.
Ninety-year-old Maggie Keenan made history by being the very first person injected with a vaccine that will change the world and hopefully allow us to get back to some kind of normal life in the New Year.
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Maggie described her jab as a very welcome early birthday present to celebrate turning 91 next week.
Seeing her sitting happily in her splendid penguin Christmas jumper encouraging everyone to be inoculated was truly inspiring and behind her mask she was obviously beaming with joy.
I also loved the fact the first man to receive the vaccine was called William Shakespeare, instantly inciting all sorts of puns, including, “For he’s a jolly good Othello” and, of course, my favourite: “All’s Well That Ends Well.”
William, 81, called it “groundbreaking”. And wasn’t it wonderful — and highly appropriate — to see two elderly British people being bold pioneers and carrying the hopes of the entire world on their experienced shoulders.
In the early days of this crisis, it felt as though the over-80s and over-90s were being thrown to the wolves, thought of as little more than collateral damage.
They were unceremoniously booted out of hospital beds and thrown into care homes, causing unnecessary Covid infections and deaths as well as unfathomable pain and suffering.
But following the fine example of Captain Tom Moore, we see what this generation is made of. It is joyful and admirable.
HUGE THANKS TO BRAVE VOLUNTEERS
It was also very fitting that hardworking nurse May Parsons, who administered the first dose, is originally from the Philippines.
Foreign workers, especially those from the Far East, Europe and the Commonwealth, are the backbone of the NHS, which would simply collapse without them.
Too many health workers have laid down their lives to save others. They are true heroes who should never be forgotten.
Creating a vaccine has been an astonishing joint effort, with scientists sharing their data and working tirelessly round the clock. They have been amazing getting it tested and approved so quickly.
Huge thanks must also go to the brave men and women who volunteered for vaccination trials and allowed the boffins to beat this vile disease.
Following the fine example of Captain Tom Moore, we see what this generation is made of.
This virus will be with us for a long time but now we have a lethal weapon in our hands as we go into battle.
The obvious priority now is to give frontline NHS and care-home workers the jab, right away, then all of our vulnerable elderly.
After that, we must all form an orderly queue and wait to be called up in order of priority.
I desperately want my mum and dad, my husband Steve and daughter Rosie, plus all my friends and family to have the vaccine.
And, of course, I will have no hesitation in getting it myself when my turn eventually comes.
I know a small minority of Covidiots out there are spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories — and who will stubbornly refuse to have the vaccine, cutting off their noses to spite their face.
Sadly, they make an awful lot of noise and their selfishness and stupidity will make it more difficult to eradicate this outbreak.
WE NEED TO KNUCKLE DOWN
I believe we all have a responsibility to get the vaccine. More importantly, we have to consider the rest of humanity and do what we can to protect others.
While we should rejoice, we mustn’t think we can simply go back to the lives we led before.
We still need to keep up the basic methods of containment – social distance, washing our hands and wearing masks.
The vaccine is an awe-inspiring scientific achievement and something we shouldn’t take for granted.
It is too early to think of this wonderful breakthrough as a licence to throw a massive party and go dancing in the streets, tempting as that may be. But it IS a step closer to feeling safe again.
We need to screw the nut and be sensible, especially with Christmas and the New Year fast approaching.
We must all stick to the rules or there will be another massive lockdown looming at the start of 2021.
It is a huge undertaking to roll out this vaccine to everyone — and I am heartened our Armed Forces will be involved, as this must be done with precision and the sort of attention to detail at which they excel.
We need to knuckle down and behave ourselves.
But let’s take this moment to cheer Maggie, William, nurse May and everyone whose efforts have made history — and will help make 2021 a brighter and happier year for us all.
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