As the COVID-19 vaccine starts to slowly but surely roll out, Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor Sir Ian McKellen recently received the shot in the UK and praised medical professionals at this time.

　　I feel very lucky to have had the vaccine. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. https://t.co/gBLRR0OeJc

　　— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) December 17, 2020

　　"It's a very special day, I feel euphoric," McKellen said on this personal Twitter account. "I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. I feel very lucky to have had the vaccine."

　　The X-Men and Lord of The Rings actor seemed to beam with joy after the first inoculation and wanted to celebrate with the medical staff. "Next time I come, well no, six days after I next come, I'm going to give them all a big hug. Is that allowed? I don't know," he told ITV.

　　McKellen then added that it was a joy to watch the staff at work and praised them for doing an incredible job thus far. "That's the real bonus of all this, to watch and see what works in this country and what doesn't work--and it seems to me the [National Health Service] is right at the top of the list for institutions that do work." The National Health Service, the NHS, is UK's socialized healthcare system. Free to all citizens, paid for by taxes.

　　"Of course, I know I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for the NHS. I'm a little bit older than the NHS but when I was a kid, having good medical treatment available when it was needed--what a wonderful notion," he continued.

　　The Pfizer-endorsed vaccine has started ship to cities across the world with it going to high-risked individuals and government officials this week. McKellen is one of the most revered actors in the world and recommended anybody and everybody should try and get the shot if they could.

　　"I would encourage everybody to do the sensible thing, not just for themselves but for everybody else because if you're virus-free that helps everybody else, doesn't it?"