Britain becomes first in the world to start mass Pfizer vaccination

Mass vaccination against the coronavirus with the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine has begun in the United Kingdom. It is the first country to use a vaccine with full clinical trial data outside of trials.

The first jab went to 90-year-old Margaret Keenan at a hospital in Coventry. She was followed by 81-year-old William Shakespeare, prompting a wave of jokes on social media.

People over 80, care home staff and health workers are being vaccinated first. Full protection requires two doses three weeks apart.

The vaccine is stored at around minus 70 degrees, which complicates logistics. Decisions on approving it are expected in the coming weeks in the United States and the European Union.