Queen Elizabeth II urged people to take the coronavirus vaccine after being injected herself.
There are several vaccines on offer in the UK and millions have already taken up the offer to get the shot.
But the reigning monarch has tried to quell fears it could be dangerous by giving her personal experience of getting the vaccine.
The 94-year-old appeared in a video call with NHS officials responsible for the rollout and delivery of vaccinations.
The Queen said to them, “It’s a bit like a plague, isn’t it? Because we don’t just have the virus here, it’s everywhere. Once you have the vaccine, you feel like you’re protected … as far as I can tell, it was completely harmless.
“It was very fast and I got a lot of letters from people who were very surprised by how easy it was to get the vaccine.”
But then she rounded up the people who didn’t get the vaccine and don’t plan on getting the shot.
“Obviously, it’s difficult for people if they’ve never had a vaccine, they should be thinking about other people instead of themselves,” she said.
“I think it’s remarkable how quickly the whole thing was done and how many people have already had the vaccine.”
The queen added, “It didn’t hurt at all.”
The UK has set an ambitious goal of vaccinating at least 15 million people from four major groups by February 15, and has managed to achieve that feat.
The plan was to ensure that everyone over 70 years of age who is clinically vulnerable receives at least one dose of a vaccine, and that vaccinations are offered to every resident of a nursing home and primary health and social workers.
It is also possible that some people outside of the four main priority groups have also been given a dose to prevent doses from being lost.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock released a statement when the goal was met, saying, “I am so proud of the team – we have reached this fantastic milestone in our fight against COVID-19. In less than 10 weeks, we have stabbed more than 15 million people in the UK.
“That is one in four adults who are now starting to receive protection against this terrible disease.”
“This achievement is due to the incredible efforts of frontline NHS workers, vaccine volunteers, the armed forces and all those working in local and central government. The rollout of vaccines shows what our country can achieve by working together.
“There is so much more to do and I urge everyone to step forward and accept their nomination. The vaccine is our path to freedom – we will beat this viral shot.”
Hancock hopes advances in the treatment of the virus and vaccines could make Covid-19 a “ treatable disease ” by the end of 2021.