> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Sir Ian McKellen among first to receive Covid-19 vaccine
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/sir-ian-mckellen-among-first-to-receive-covid-19-vaccine/
- Published: 2020-12-19T11:11:06.000Z
- Updated: 2020-12-19T10:11:04.000Z
- Description: 81-year-old actor and LGBTQ+ activist, Sir Ian McKellen, is among the first to receive the new Covid-19 vaccine.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Community, Health and Beauty, Information, News, Queer Corner, Coronavirus (Covid-19), Covid vaccine, LGBTQ, London, NHS, Sir Ian McKellen, UK News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/116129154_mckellen1_pa-1.jpg)

81-year-old actor and LGBTQ+ activist, **Sir Ian McKellen**, is among the first to receive the new Covid-19 vaccine after it was rolled out to over 140,000 **UK** citizens over the age of 80\. According to the [**BBC**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-55345131?ref=scenemag.co.uk), the *Lord of the Rings* star was vaccinated at **Queen Mary’s University Hospital** in **London**. Other famous figures to have been administered the vaccine include **Prue Leith**, **Marty Wilde** and **Lionel Blair**.

McKellen said he felt ‘euphoric’ after receiving the vaccine, and hopes it be the first step in returning back to normal life: *“I feel honored to have received the Covid-19 vaccine and I would urge anyone who is offered the vaccine to take up the offer – it took a few minutes and then it was done. I really hope that, as more people get vaccinated, we will move further along the path back to a more normal way of life, particularly for the arts which have suffered so much this year.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ian-mckellen-gay-pride-1.jpg)

McKellen at a Pride parade

The vaccination programme is now in its second week, after the **NHS** described it as the *“biggest breakthrough since the pandemic began, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives”*. McKellen encouraged others to get vaccinated when possible, saying: *“We all have a part to play in the fight against coronavirus and doing our bit and getting vaccinated will save lives.”*