Campaign for UK’s first national 'Thank You Day' for pandemic heroes

Watch: Celebrities back campaign for national 'Thank You Day'

The nurse who administered the world's first coronavirus vaccination outside a trial has backed a national "Thank You Day" for pandemic heroes.

A host of celebrities have also thrown their support behind the proposed event, which would salute those across society who have helped the UK's battle against COVID.

The campaign would allow the country to come together on 4 July to say thanks to those who have made the last year more manageable.

May Parsons, a matron at University Hospital Coventry, who administered the first COVID jab, said she is backing the event.

“Basically, I think we just do not say thank you enough,” she told BBC Breakfast on Monday.

“I think it is important that we show appreciation to our colleagues who have turned up and stopped whatever they are doing just to help us.

“I think it is quite important and this is something I am passionate about as well.”

On 8 December, 2020, Parsons became the first person in the world to administer a coronavirus vaccination to a patient outside clinical trials.

She gave the Pfizer vaccine to Margaret Keenan, who was just about to turn 91.

Keenan, originally from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, called it the “best early birthday present”.

She received her second jab just before the end of last year.

Among those backing the campaign for a Thank You Day are actor Michael Sheen, adventurer Bear Grylls and Olympic rowing champion Dame Katherine Grainger.

Singers Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Craig David, actor Dame Judi Dench and TV sports presenter Gary Lineker have also supported the proposed event.

Kwame Kwei-Armah, artistic director of the Young Vic theatre, said he is backing the campaign because it “just felt beautiful”.

He told BBC Breakfast: “This is a moment where we can say thank you to anyone who has helped, particularly over these last four years, I would say, where we have gone from one body blow to another.

“I think that, by the time we get to the end of this phase of the lockdown, we are desperately going to want to be close to people and say thank you.”

He added that he wanted to thank everyone who has supported theatre and the arts for “just keeping the faith”.

Watch: Meet the UK nurse who administered the first COVID-19 vaccine