An 81-year-old man who became the second individual in the UK to acquire a COVID-19 vaccine has died of an unrelated illness. William Shakespeare, who goes by Bill, died of a stroke. Mr Shakespeare was a patient at University Hospitals Coventry’s frailty ward when he received his initially dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab in early December.
Then, he had gained international consideration not just mainly because of his age but also mainly because he shared his name with the world’s greatest playwright and poet of the 16th century.
Mr Shakespeare was administered the COVID-19 vaccine on December 8, shortly following 91-year-old Margaret Keenan, the initially individual in the nation to get the shot. Mr Shakespeare’s buddy and Coventry councillor Jayne Innes told the BBC he had died on Thursday and added the “best tribute to Bill is to have the jab”.
Mr Shakespeare had been a parish councillor for 30 years and chaired the council for 20 of these. “He was such a lovely man, one who had a real commitment to making his local area better,” Ms Jayne told Coventry Live, a regional news outlet.
In a tribute, his wife, Joy, mentioned Mr Shakespeare felt extremely grateful and hugely proud of becoming supplied the chance to develop into one of the initially men and women in the world to be offered the vaccine. Mr Shakespeare loved seeing the media coverage about him in December and would frequently speak about it to men and women to encourage them “to get their vaccine anytime he could,” she added. Apart from his wife, Mr Shakespeare is survived by two adult sons and grandchildren.
The West Midlands Labour group said on Twitter that Mr Shakespeare’s decades of service to the party were recently recognised. “Our thoughts are with Joy and Bill’s family and friends.”
We’re sorry to hear of the death of Coventry Labour stalwart Bill Shakespeare. Bill made worldwide headlines as 1st initially man to have Covid vaccine. His decades of service to the party had been not too long ago recognised by @Keir_Starmer. Our thoughts are with Joy and Bill’s family & mates. pic.twitter.com/ANCTeGFYEs
— cccccc(@WMLabour) May 24, 2021
Mr Shakespeare was a talented photographer and loved all types of music, specially jazz and frequently attended gigs to take photos of the musicians.