A British patient became the first person in the world to receive the AstraZeneca and University of Oxford vaccine following delays in their clinical testing.
82-year-old Brian Pinker, who is reportedly a dialysis patient suffering from kidney disease, received the first dose of the vaccine on Monday, according to The Argus, making him the first person to receive the vaccine outside of clinical trials.
The United Kingdom approved the AstraZeneca vaccine on Dec. 30. Doses began to roll out shortly after approval and the country is aiming to vaccinate 1 million people per week.
‘I’m so pleased to be getting the COVID vaccine today and really proud it is one that was invented in Oxford.’
82-year-old Brian Pinker became the first person in the world to receive the new Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine this morning at @OUHospitals. ???? pic.twitter.com/nhnd3Sx97m
— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) January 4, 2021
Pinker told The Argus that he was “pleased to be getting the COVID vaccine today” and that he was very proud that the vaccine he received was the one developed at Oxford. He also said that the shot would give him peace of mind as he looked forward to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary.
“This is a pivotal moment in our fight against this awful virus and I hope it provides renewed hope to everybody that the end of this pandemic is in sight.” British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told The Argus. (RELATED: Fauci Floats Possibility That COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Mandatory For School And Travel)
The NHS expects to receive half a million doses to become available today, according to The Argus, with vulnerable groups such as Pinker the priority for the first round of vaccinations.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has faced scrutiny with its development over the last few months, with catholic bishops most recently criticizing the vaccine for its connections to aborted fetus cells.