Boris Johnson said it was “very, very exciting” to meet some of the first people to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
Speaking at the vaccination centre at Guy’s Hospital in London on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said it was moving to talk to Lyn Wheeler, who was the first to receive the vaccine there.
“It was very, very exciting just to talk to Lyn about the vaccine that she has just taken,” he said.
“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.”
– Face masks may last until late next year
Sir Patrick Vallance said face masks could still be needed late into next year despite the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine.
“It’s going to take quite a long time to make sure everybody in the at-risk groups and all of the groups that are difficult to reach get vaccinated as appropriate,” he said.
He said it can take a month or longer before the vaccine gives full immunity.
“It may be that next winter, even with vaccination, we need measures like masks in place – we don’t know yet how good all the vaccines are going to be at preventing the transmission of the virus,” he said.
