‘I feel euphoric!’ Sir Ian McKellen, 81, safely receives COVID-19 vaccine

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Sir Ian McKellen CBE has safely received the COVID-19 vaccine after the NHS launched its vaccine roll-out earlier this month.

The veteran British actor, 81, forms part of the first eligible groups for the vaccine and joins the thousands of over 80s, NHS staff, and care home staff who have been called upon by the NHS to attend their local GP practice or vaccination centre to be treated.

He joins other stars in being vaccinated, such as Prue Leith, Lionel Blair and Michael Whitehall.  

After getting the vaccine at the Arts Research Centre, Queen Mary University Hospital, Sir Ian said: ‘It’s a very special day, I feel euphoric!’

He went on: ‘Anyone who has lived as long as I have is alive because they have had previous vaccinations.

‘The take-up amongst the older generation will be 100 per cent – it ought to be – because you’re having it not just for yourself but for people who you are close to – you’re doing your bit for society.

‘Of course, it’s painless… it’s convenient, and getting in touch and meeting NHS staff and saying thank you to them for how hard they’ve been working is a bonus.

‘I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. I feel very lucky to have had the vaccine.’

The vaccine is the biggest breakthrough since the pandemic began, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives.

The country-wide vaccination programme is the largest in NHS history and is already in its second week.

Just like other routine vaccines, this works by teaching the immune system how to defend itself against attack.

The vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm and is given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart.

An effective vaccine will be the best way to protect the most vulnerable from COVID-19 and the UK’s roll out only began when the Pfizer vaccine, which has been trialled on around 45,000 people, was confirmed to have met the strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which enabled it to be given to the public.

Dr Nikki Kanani, NHS England Medical Director for Primary Care, said: ‘The NHS has made an excellent start to rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine across the country, with dozens of hospitals and now hundreds of local vaccination services offering the vaccine to those who need it most.

‘This is a huge step forward in the fight against coronavirus, but everyone should continue to follow all guidance to control the spread of the virus.’

The UK’s vaccination programme will build up steadily in the weeks and months ahead and will gradually be extended to more and more people in order of age and risk.

To help, people must wait to be contacted – the NHS will let people know when it’s their turn to have the vaccine.

Veteran star Lionel Blair, 92, received his jab this week. 

The entertainer attended the NHS vaccine centre in the grounds of the horse racing course at Epsom, Surrey on Wednesday.

After being filmed beaming while getting the jab, he later said: ‘I couldn’t believe it when they called me. It’s next week and then the next one is in January and here I am. I’m just thinking, thank God I live here.’

Lionel looked delighted in the video as he was tended to by a nurse, who pulled his sleeve up and administered the jab, which he admitted was ‘fine’. 

Lionel, who has been married to his wife Susan since 1967, has three children, including comedian Matt and actress Lucy, and admitted he is most excited to see his kids and three grandchildren once he has completed the vaccinations. 

Lionel went on: ‘I’m hoping it’s going to make me live a bit longer! And seeing my grandchildren and children growing up. The whole thing means a great deal to me…

‘My back is the only thing that is weak. My doctor says it’s because of all the dancing in my career. I couldn’t wait for them to phone, I thought, “How do you get in touch?”‘

Lionel is an actor, choreographer, tap dancer and television presenter and is best known in the UK for presenting the quiz programme Name That Tune, which ran from  1976 to 1988. He appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2014.

Another star to receive the jab was Prue Leith, 80, who shared an image on Twitter during her vaccination alongside a caption reading: ‘Who wouldn’t want immunity from COVID-19 with a painless jab?’ 

A reported 140,000 Britons have been vaccinated against coronavirus in the first seven days of the roll-out, in an announcement made amid mounting pressure on Number 10 to publish the numbers.

Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi said 137,897 people have had Pfizer/BioNTech’s jab so far, including 108,000 in England, 18,000 in Scotland, 7,897 in Wales and 4,000 in Northern Ireland.

Mr Zahawi — who was only able to provide precise figures for Wales — said this was a ‘good start’ and promised more would get the jab when more centres opened.

Department of Health bosses later repeated Mr Zahawi’s claim and failed to provide exact counts for anywhere except Wales. Officials insisted the tally was ‘provisional and subject to change’. Matt Hancock said: ‘This is just the start.’

The UK’s largest ever vaccination programme began on December 8, with the Health Secretary promising ‘millions’ would get the jab before the end of the year in hope of finally ending the pandemic.

But at the current speed it will take another six weeks for one million people to get vaccinated.

The first week of Britain’s vaccine roll-out saw fifty hospitals geared up to administer doses. GP practices and a handful of purpose-built inoculation clinics started to give out jabs yesterday.

The programme has already been swamped by IT glitches forcing many doctors to turn to pen and paper, it was claimed today. When some doctors tried to log jabs in the system they received an ‘infrastructure issue’ message, leaving them unable to digitally record vaccinations.

A Government source told Politico that ‘no one has a f***ing clue’ how many Britons have received the jab, amid fury over the lack of statistics.

The Department of Health has now pledged to publish weekly figures on the exact number of Britons who have been vaccinated against coronavirus like they do for flu, starting from next week. 

It comes after a report by the National Audit Office warned half of Britons may not get vaccinated by the end of next year, as plans assume only 25million will get the jab.