LABOUR hailed the new coronavirus vaccine programme as a “light at the end of this very long tunnel” after elderly people were the first in Britain to begin receiving the jab today.

In the Commons, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth described the start of what is expected to be the NHS’s biggest ever immunisation programme as a “wonderful moment,” as scores of hospitals begin to administer the Covid-19 vaccine. 

Margaret Keenan, from Coventry, who turns 91 next week, said she was “so privileged” to be the first in the world to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine outside of a clinical trial, and that it was the “best early birthday present.”

William Shakespeare, an 81-year-old who, like his namesake, hails from Warwickshire, was the second person to receive the vaccine and said he was “pleased” to do so.

Ivy Smith, 97, from Kent, believed that she was the oldest person to be vaccinated on the programme’s first day, adding that she felt “quite excited” and “lucky” to have it.

The government plans to administer 800,000 doses over coming weeks to priority groups, and four million doses by the end of the month, after regulators approved the vaccine last week.

The vaccine takes 28 days to take full effect and requires two shots, with a booster 21 days after the first jab to confer immunity.

Elderly care home residents and their carers, people aged over 80 and front-line health and social care workers are next in line for the free NHS vaccine.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that he hopes care home vaccinations can “start before Christmas.”

The government will then prioritise people over 50 and those with underlying health conditions, with the majority of them expected to be vaccinated by February.

In the Commons, Mr Ashworth pressed Mr Hancock on whether student medics would be vaccinated at the same time as NHS staff.

Mr Hancock said more details on NHS students will be set out “in due course.”

In response to a question from Mr Ashworth about vaccinations for “hard-to-reach groups,” he expected that homeless people’s access will be “primarily” through the community roll-out.

Charlotte Nichols, Labour MP for Warrington North, asked if key workers such as teachers and shop workers would have priority.

Mr Hancock said the government would look at prioritising other workers once clinically vulnerable people are vaccinated.