Here are 9 political leaders and UK celebrities who been vaccinated against Covid

Since mid-December there has been hope that the pandemic could be coming to an end, as the first wave of vaccines was rolled out.

A mutated version of the virus has now been detected and lockdown restrictions in the UK have been tightened.

Therefore, as more and more people eagerly wait to receive the vaccine, some famous faces have already gone public with their immunisation, in an attempt to show the safety of doing so.

Here are nine political leaders and celebrities who have now been immunised against Covid-19.

Kamala Harris

Included in the first wave of Moderna vaccinations in the US, vice president elect Kamala Harris has gone public with the news she has received her first dose.

On 29 December, the soon-to-be vice president of the US shared pictures of her being injected with the vaccine, while encouraging others to do the same.

After receiving the injection, she said: "That was easy...I barely felt it.

"I want to encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It is relatively painless. It happens really quickly. It is safe.

"It's literally about saving lives, I trust the scientists. And it is the scientists who created and approved this vaccine. So I urge everyone, when it is your turn, get vaccinated."

She added that her husband would also be immunised with the Moderna vaccine that day.

Prue Leith

One of the first celebrities to receive the vaccine, the Great British Bake Off judge shared the news she had received her first dose of the vaccine on 15 December.

The South-African restaurateur falls into the high priority category, given that she is 80-years-old.

She told how she was “absolutely delighted” to have received it, telling how "They [the NHS] rang me up and asked if I wanted it and I said 'yes!'"

In an attempt to reassure others and ensure others also take up the opportunity, she said: "It's really important - I can't believe there's anyone who doesn't want to [get the vaccine].”

Mike and Karen Pence

The vice president and his wife have shared footage of them both receiving the Pfizer vaccine.

On 18 December, the vice president of the US publicly received the vaccine - the first US political leader to do so.

He told the media, who covered the event live on television, “I didn’t feel a thing”.

During the White House event, his wife Karen Pence, and the US surgeon general, Jerome Adams, also received the vaccine.

President Trump did not receive his vaccine on the same day. However, he acknowledged his approval of the Pfizer vaccine - tweeting: “I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time.”

Joe Biden

Just days before Christmas, on 21 December, president elect Biden was the first of the new presidential team to be injected with the Pfizer vaccine.

Following in vice president Pence’s style, Biden also received the vaccine live on TV.

His wife, Dr Jill Biden, received her vaccine earlier that day.

The Biden administration hopes to deploy 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations in the US during its first 100 days in the White House.

Since March 2020, there have been more than 18 million cases and 319,000 deaths in America.

Ian McKellen

The Lord of the Rings legend publicly received his vaccine on 17 December, stating he felt “euphoric” afterwards.

He later added in a tweet: “I feel very lucky to have had the vaccine. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone."

NHS England also acknowledged his vaccination - stating he was in one of the highest priority groups as he is aged 81.

The NHS statement added: “biggest breakthrough since the pandemic began, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives."

The British actor - also known for starring in X-Men - added: “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.

"We all have a part to play in the fight against coronavirus and doing our bit and getting vaccinated will save lives."

Rupert Murdoch

One of the oldest famous faces to receive the Pfizer vaccine is media mogul, Rupert Murdoch.

News Corp boss Murdoch chose not to go public with pictures or footage of the event - with “no media coverage” advised for security reasons.

A statement was later released on behalf of the 89 year old billionaire, in which he said: “I would like to thank the key workers and the NHS staff who have worked so hard throughout the pandemic, and the amazing scientists who have made this vaccine possible.

“I strongly encourage people around the world to get the vaccine as it becomes available.”

He is believed to be isolating with his wife at his home in Henley, Oxfordshire, throughout the lockdown.

Patrick Mower

The Emmerdale star, known for playing Rodney Blackstock, has received the vaccine and said he felt “incredibly lucky” to have been included in the first phase of vaccinations.

The 82-year-old received his first dose on 17 December, just nine days after the first NHS patient received it.

In a tweet he shared, stood outside his local covid vaccine centre, he wrote: “Getting my COVID vaccination was incredibly simple & painless.

"I feel incredibly lucky to have had it & would like to thank all the wonderful NHS staff for making it happen.”

Nancy Pelosi

The US Speaker of the House of Representatives stirred up controversy when she published photos of her receiving the vaccine.

In a Twitter post, she wrote: "Today, with confidence in science and at the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the COVID-19 vaccine."

However, some Twitter users falsely claimed she did not actually have an injection, stating that there was an orange cap on the end of the syringe in her arm.

However, other photos which later emerged showed the needle protruding beyond the orange stop cap - which was not a stopper.

To avoid any doubt, Ms Pelosi later shared a picture of her vaccination record card, showing she received the Covid-19 immunisation.