‘We didn’t know she’d be first in the world’
NI family tell of pride as Enniskillen-born Margaret becomes first person to get Covid jab Sprightly 90-year-old says: ‘If I can have it at my age, you can have it too’
A FERMANAGH woman has spoken of how proud she is after her auntie Margaret became the world’s first coronavirus vaccine recipient.
Margaret ‘Peggy’ Keenan, who is originally from Enniskillen, made history when she was given the first Pfizer injection outside a clinical trial at 6.31am yesterday in Coventry.
Her niece, Geraldine Mchugh from Tempo in Co Fermanagh, was shocked when she turned on the news yesterday.
“I knew auntie Peggy was getting the vaccine but didn’t realise she’d be the first in the world to receive it outside clinical trials,” said Ms Mchugh.
“The family are delighted for her. She’s a fabulous person.”
Grandmother Mrs Keenan, who will turn 91 next Tuesday, said it was the “best early birthday present I could wish for” as it meant she could visit family.
She added: “My advice to anyone offered this vaccine is to take it. If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too.”
THE niece of the first recipient of the Covid-19 vaccine has spoken of her immense pride at “auntie Peggy” becoming world-famous.
Margaret Keenan, who is originally from Enniskillen, was given the injection early yesterday morning — the first of many doses of the Pfizer/biontech jab that will be dispensed to nearly a million people across the UK over the next few weeks.
Coventry-based Mrs Keenan, who will turn 91 on December 15, has lived in England for more than 60 years, but has she many relatives in Northern Ireland.
One of t hem, Geral di ne Mchugh from Tempo in Co Fermanagh, spoke exclusively to this newspaper about her shock at seeing her elderly aunt leading the news on every media outlet yesterday morning.
“I knew auntie Peggy was getting the vaccine but didn’t realise she’d be the first in the world to receive it outside clinical trials,” said Ms Mchugh (61), who visited her aunt in England last year, prior to the onset of the pandemic.
“She went into hospital last week with breathing problems and was put on oxygen.
“Her daughter later told me that Peggy was doing well and had been chosen as one of the people to get the new vaccine.
“I thought she was going to be the first in Coventry’s University Hospital, so I got a total surprise when I saw her on the news as the first in the world.”
The mother-of-three — Karen (30), Una (24) and Declan (23) — added: “The family are delighted for her. She’s a fabulous person who likes to keep busy.”
Mrs Keenan, who has a daughter, Sue (58), son Philip (60) and two grandchildren, was well aware of the global significance of what happened yesterday at 6.31am.
The nonagenarian, who was wearing a grey cardigan with a blue T-shirt bearing a penguin and the words ‘Merry Christmas’ underneath, received her historic jab from nurse May Parsons in her adopted city.
Better known to her English family and friends as ‘Maggie’
but ‘ Peggy’ on this side of the Irish Sea — the former jewellery shop assistant, who was given a guard of honour by medical staff after the procedure, retired just four years ago aged 86.
“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19,” said Mrs Keenan, who despite spending most of her life in the West Midlands has not lost her Fermanagh accent.
“It’s the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with family and friends in the new year.
“I have been on my own for most of this year. I can’t thank May and the NHS staff enough for looking after me.
“My advice to anyone offered this vaccine is to take it. If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too.”
Mrs Keenan, who will receive a booster jab in three weeks, was the first patient at dozens of hospital hubs across the UK administering the Pfizer vaccine on what the emotional Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, dubbed “V-day”.
Not long after Mrs Keenan made history, Dundrum nursing sister Joanna Sloan became the first person to receive the jab in Northern Ireland.
The 28-year-old said she hoped
‘It’s the best early birthday present I could hope for’
her five-year-old daughter, Cailie, would be impressed by what she had done, adding that she felt emotional at being part of such a momentous occasion.
Ms Sloan, who manages the Belfast Trust’s vaccination centre, had to put her wedding on hold this year because of the pandemic.
She is now due to get married in April next year.
“This feels like the last hurdle towards keeping people safe — myself and everyone around me,” she said.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for so long and it feels great.
I feel fantastic — privileged.”
Ms Sloan, who has been a nurse for six years, said she would explain the significance of the day to her daughter.
“I want her to be proud. I want all my family and friends to be proud,” she added.
The Co Down nurse, who is one of 600 volunteers who will get the two required doses of the vaccine during the first phase of the local rollout, said it was an emotional moment.
“The health service has struggled throughout the fight against Covid-19, so it feels like a momentous day,” she added.