You’re incredible! Tribute to NHS from Ma ggie, 91, first in the world to get jab
everyone comes forward. There’s nothing to it, you don’t even feel anything.”
Asked how she will remember her first jab, Maggie said: “I’ll be telling my greatgrandchildren all about it. It’s such an amazing thing to have done. I feel really honoured to have had it done, to have been the first and to have set the ball rolling.”
The former jewellery shop owner received her second dose at the end of December and is now looking forward to “a little holiday”. She thanked NHS staff leading the drive to protect the nation, adding: “They are incredible – the NHS has achieved an enormous lot by doing the work they do.”
Maggie was joined in the call by matron May Parsons who gave her the first shot at University Hospital Coventry.
May, who has worked for the NHS for nearly 20 years since moving from the Philippines, said the speed of the rollout had been “almost unbelievable”.
She added: “Vaccinating Maggie was a little spark of light in the midst of darkness and now I feel like the dawn is coming. It’s almost unbelievable that we’ve managed to roll out the vaccine so successfully.
“I’m really grateful to all my colleagues for the bravery and courage they’ve shown, which has helped us care for our people and care for our patients like Maggie.”
Sir Simon ended the call by saying: “Maggie, you’ve been an inspiration. May, you’ve set the health service on the path towards this hugely successful vaccination rollout. Thank you both so much.”
Anyone aged 45 and over can book a jab.