The Daily - The Beginning of the End of the Pandemic

In Britain, news that the country had become the first to start administering a fully tested coronavirus vaccine was met with hope, excitement — and some trepidation. Amid the optimism that normal life might soon resume, there is also concern. Has the vaccine been developed too fast? Is it safe? On today’s episode, we examine how Britons feel about the prospect of receiving a shot and attend a vaccination clinic in Wales. Guest: Megan Specia, a story editor based in London for the New York Times. For an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter. You can read the latest edition here. Background reading: For the first recipients of the vaccine, among them older Britons and hundreds of doctors and nurses who pulled the National Health Service through the pandemic, the shots offered a glimpse at a return to normalcy.Dr. Chris Hingston was one of the first health care workers in Britain to receive the vaccine. He was clearly aware that the simple act had a greater purpose: protecting not only himself, but hopefully his family, colleagues and patients from a potentially life-threatening virus. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily

Duration: 23m
Broadcast on: 09 Dec 2020
Audio Format: other

In Britain, news that the country had become the first to start administering a fully tested coronavirus vaccine was met with hope, excitement — and some trepidation.

Amid the optimism that normal life might soon resume, there is also concern. Has the vaccine been developed too fast? Is it safe? On today’s episode, we examine how Britons feel about the prospect of receiving a shot and attend a vaccination clinic in Wales.

Guest: Megan Specia, a story editor based in London for the New York Times.

For an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, subscribe to our newsletter. You can read the latest edition here.

Background reading:

For the first recipients of the vaccine, among them older Britons and hundreds of doctors and nurses who pulled the National Health Service through the pandemic, the shots offered a glimpse at a return to normalcy.
Dr. Chris Hingston was one of the first health care workers in Britain to receive the vaccine. He was clearly aware that the simple act had a greater purpose: protecting not only himself, but hopefully his family, colleagues and patients from a potentially life-threatening virus.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

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This podcast is supported by TikTok. Sometimes the most interesting discoveries are the ones you weren't looking for. That happens every day on TikTok. A science experiment can spark a whole new interest. A recipe you stumble upon can become a meal you make for the people you love. And a restaurant you've never heard of might become your new favorite spot. That's the thing about TikTok. Follow your curiosity and see where it leads. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. - Good afternoon and welcome to the latest number 10. It is almost a year since humanity has been tormented by COVID, across the world economic output has plummeted and a million and a half people have died all the time. We've been waiting and hoping for the day when the searchlights of science would pick out our invisible enemy and give us the power to stop that enemy from making us ill. And now the scientists have done it. - From the New York Times, I'm Michael Wabarro. This is a daily. - Tomorrow is V-Day when we roll out the coronavirus vaccine across the whole of the UK and it's the beginning of the end of this pandemic. - It's being called V-Day in Britain and it's hoped the vaccine will mark the beginning of the end in the war against the virus. - After enduring months of infection, death and lockdowns, the United Kingdom has made history, becoming the first nation to administer a fully tested vaccine for the coronavirus to its citizens, starting with healthcare workers and those over 80. - You know, it's been such a tough year for so many people and you know, we can get on with our lives. - We're no longer resting on the mere hope that we can return to normal, but rather the sure and certain knowledge that we will succeed and together reclaim our lives and all the things about our lives that we love. - Today, my colleagues were there as it happened. It's Wednesday, December 9th. - Okay, so have you heard the news? - Of course, yes, I've heard the news, fantastic. Really quite amazing what they've managed to do in such a short time and I'm very excited to take it. - Have you heard the news about the vaccine? - Yes, it's coming. - And how are you feeling about it?

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