'Is He Taking the Piss?': Matt Hancock Ridiculed for Failed 'Waterworks' Over First UK COVID Jab

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s seemingly emotional reaction to the news of people finally receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 inoculation outside of clinical trials has triggered doubts regarding his sincerity.

Hancock, who had dubbed Tuesday V-day, was accused of "pretending to cry" during an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain programme on Tuesday.

​His appearance had followed the news that 90-year-old British grandmother Margaret Keenan had become the first person to receive the jab, followed by 81-year-old William Shakespeare. The latter also appeared on the ITV show, prior to Hancock's appearance.

​Reacting to Shakespeare's comments, a seemingly profoundly moved Hancock was seen to be swiping at his eyes and briefly shutting them.

However, viewers were not all convinced, due to the lack of any visible tears, and didn’t hesitate to voice their doubts in their posts.

​On Tuesday the UK became the first western nation to roll-out a coronavirus vaccine after the jab, developed by German company BioNTech in partnership with Pfizer, was approved by regulators last week.

Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, was the first person in the world to receive the jab outside of clinical trials.

The grandmother, who was given the injection as the first of 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that will be dispensed in the coming weeks, said it was the "best early birthday present".