Irish gran who got first-ever jab urges people to get booster

AN IRISH granny who became the first in the world to have a COVID-19 vaccine has urged people to have the booster after getting her shot.

Margaret Keenan (91), from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, returned to University Hospital Coventry in the West Midlands – where she had the historic injection in December 2020 – to get her booster yesterday.

Afterwards, she told reporters “I feel great”, urging the public to “go for it”.

Mrs Keenan, a mother- oftwo and grandmother- of-four, was reunited with hospital matron May Parsons – also having her booster jab, as a frontline health worker – with the pair sharing a big hug.

Ms Parsons was the medic who administered Mrs Keenan’s jab on December 8 last year, with Mrs Keenan referring to them both jokingly as “Maggie-May” after they rolled up their sleeves.

As the first person anywhere in the world to have a Covid jab at the start of the mass vaccination programme, the face of Mrs Keenan known as Maggie was beamed around the globe.

In April, she urged people to get their second jabs and she is now lending her voice to the campaign supporting the booster rollout.

The nonagenarian, who only retired from her job working in a jeweller’s five years ago, said: “I think, for the few seconds it takes, (they should) go and have the injection because it’s saving their lives; their family’s lives, and saving the NHS.

“I keep saying this all the time, do go and get your vaccination.”

Mrs Keenan added: “I don’t really know what stops people from having it... there’s nothing to be frightened of.

“It’s protected me in the mind, as well, you know.

“I feel quite confident now, going out, places I wouldn’t have thought about before.

“I felt a bit, not scared, but feel so happy now that I’ve got this done and can be free, if you like.

“I’m happier that I’ve had the jab, I would have probably gone out but I wouldn’t be very happy about it.”

Asked what her message to the public would be, she said: “I’d say go for it, go and have it done, and you’ll feel much better for it.

“When you walk down the street, you feel a different person, you feel so happy because you feel it’s going to help you and help others.”