United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has received the first dose of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday. 

Assuring the general public that the vaccine is safe, Boris said, “I literally did not feel a thing. It was very good, very quick,” reported AFP. 

The 56-year-old while talking to the reporters at a London hospital close to his Downing Street residence emphasized the clearance EU regulators gave for the AstraZeneca vaccine. 

Also Read: AstraZeneca jab recommended only for people aged 55 and above in France

“Everybody, when you do get your notification to go for a jab, please go and get it. It’s the best thing for you, the best thing for your family and for everybody else,” he added. 

Boris got infected with COVID-19 in March 2020 and experienced mild symptoms. He had spent a week at St Thomas’ Hospital, including three days in intensive care after he getting diagnosed. 

Also Read: AstraZeneca vaccine ‘not associated’ with higher blood clot risk: EU regulators

This comes after fears of blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca jab being suspended by many European countries. 

AstraZeneca’s jab, developed with Oxford University, provides the bulk of Britain’s inoculation campaign and a large portion of its supply has been produced by the Serum Institute of India, the world’s biggest vaccine maker. 

“There is no evidence that blood clots in veins is occurring more than would be expected in the absence of vaccination, for either vaccine,” said June Raine, chief executive of the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The supply issues are another headache for AstraZeneca after its jab was suspended in several EU countries, pending a review by the European Medicines Agency following isolated cases of blood clots and brain haemorrhages.