A COUNTY Down nurse has become the first person on the island to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Joanna Sloan, from Dundrum in County Down is the first person on the island of Ireland to receive the fully-tested and approved Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech.
The 28-year-old nurse is sister in charge of Covid-19 vaccination for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland, having worked as a nurse for six years.
The Northern Ireland Department of Health shared an image of Ms Sloan receiving the vaccine this morning, and confirmed she was "the first person in NI to receive a fully-tested and approved [Covid-19] vaccine".
Sister Joanna Sloan the first person in NI to receive a fully-tested and approved #COVID19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/lYFhd1cbyG
— Department of Health (@healthdpt) December 8, 2020
Sister Joanna Sloan joins Irish woman Margaret Keenan in being among the first people in the world to receive the vaccination which could finally see an end to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this morning, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive the vaccine.
Ms Keenan, from Enniskillen in Fermanagh, received the vaccine at a nursing home in Coventry at 6.45am this morning, and will receive a second booster jab 21 days from now.
COVENTRY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Margaret Keenan, 90, is the first patient in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry(Photo by Jacob King - Pool / Getty Images)The grandmother, who will turn 91 years old next week, described it as "the best early birthday present” and is already looking forward to spending more time with her daughter, son and four grandchildren in the new year.
She said: "I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19.
"It's the best early birthday present I could wish for, because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the New Year after being on my own for most of the year."
See More: Coronavirus, Ireland, Northern Irelnd, Nurse, Vaccine
