The Beginning of the End: See Celebrities and Politicians Getting Their COVID-19 Vaccines

Sir Ian McKellen

McKellen, 81, was given the first of two doses at London’s Queen Mary’s University Hospital on Dec. 16, the Evening Standard reported.

“It’s a very special day, I feel euphoric,” the Oscar nominee said, per the British news outlet.

“Anyone who has lived as long as I have is alive because they have had previous vaccinations,” the Lord of the Rings star said, adding, “the take up amongst the older generation will be 100 percent — 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.”

McKellen said he felt “very lucky to have had the vaccine,” and encouraged others to get it as well.

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Stephanie Elam

CNN reporter Elam recently detailed her decision to join the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial through Janssen Vaccines & Prevention.

“Who signs up for these trials is key,” she wrote on CNN.com on Dec. 11. “That’s a large part of the reason why I wanted to volunteer for this COVID-19 vaccine research — more Black people and more people of color need to be part of these trials so more diverse populations can reap the benefits of this medical research. I believe in science and I hope my decision to join a trial and my transparency about the process will help more people trust today’s medicine.”

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Joel Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg’s father Joel, who is a doctor in Florida, was one of the health care workers across the United States to receive a vaccine for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Facebook chief operating officer shared the news of her dad’s vaccination on her Instagram on Dec. 15, writing, “My father, a doctor in Florida, got the COVID-19 vaccination this morning. He wrote on Facebook how there were tears in his eyes — and there are tears in my eyes as I write this.”

Alongside a picture of her father getting the shot, Sandberg thanked the doctors in her family as well as “all the healthcare workers who risk their lives daily to take care of us.”

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Oliver Stone

Stone revealed he received the Russian version of the COVID-19 vaccine while filming in the country.

The 74-year-old filmmaker, who’s behind classics like Platoon and JFK, is in Russia making a climate change documentary. In an interview with Russian media, distributed by the Associated Press, Stone confirmed he received the vaccine, dubbed Sputnik V.

“I got a vaccine shot. I don’t know if it’s going to work, I got it a few days ago,” he said in the AP clip. “I’ve heard good things about the Russian vaccine. I have to get a second shot in 45 days. But I’m hopeful. It’s a very good vaccine, I don’t understand why it’s being ignored in the West.”

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Prue Leith

Great British Bake Off judge Leith was among the first group of people who received the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.K.

The British-South African chef and cookbook author, 80, announced the vaccination on her social media channels on Dec. 14. “Who wouldn’t want immunity from #Covid19 with a painless jab?? #vaccine,” she captioned the photo of herself wearing a mask while receiving the shot.

Former GBBO winner Dr. Rahul Mandal praised Leith in the comments saying “Yes!! You just look as gorgeous in the tent as when you are taking your jab!!” Fellow GBBO judge, Paul Hollywood also commented, “Well done Prue x.”

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Margaret Keenan

Keenan turned into a bit of a celebrity herself when she became the first person in the United Kingdom to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

The former shop clerk, 91, was given the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at 6:31 a.m. local time on Dec. 8, at University Hospital Coventry in England.

“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against COVID-19,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “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.”

The second person in the U.K. to get a shot? A man named William Shakespeare. 

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