The United Kingdom started to distribute the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine — and the second person to get it was, apparently, William Shakespeare.
What’s going on?
Shakespeare, 81, became the second person in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the University Hospital Coventry, England, ABC News reports.
📸: William Shakespeare, 81, becomes the second person to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, at University Hospital Coventry, England. https://t.co/EHlbqidz4W pic.twitter.com/1M1fbVDw6h
— ABC News (@ABC) December 8, 2020
- Of course, Shakespeare was named after William Shakespeare, the famous poet and writer.
- Shakespeare said he was “pleased” to get the vaccine, describing the staff at the hospital as “wonderful.”
Not the first
Margaret Keenan, a grandmother of four, was the first person in the United Kingdom to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, NPR reports.
- “I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19,” she said. “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.”
Social media reaction
Some on social media consider Margaret Keenan as patient 1A. So would that make Shakespeare “Patient 2B or not 2B?”
Others made puns about Shakespeare on social media.
People are making a big thing about the second man to receive the Covid-19 vaccine being called William Shakespeare, but I think it’s much ado about nothing.
— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) December 8, 2020
Love the fact that the 2nd person to have the vaccine was William Shakespeare from Warwickshire. How late am I with "Two Gentlemen of Corona?"
— john graham (@spinnerjohn) December 8, 2020
This Winter’s Tale https://t.co/eWzVuQAkIp
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) December 8, 2020