ROME, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first three Italians -- a medical researcher, a nurse, and a healthcare worker -- were inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine at Rome's Spallanzani Hospital on Sunday.

A Niguarda Hospital nurse prepares to inoculate the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Niguarda Hospital in Milan, on December 27, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

"With deep pride and a sense of responsibility I received the vaccine today," said nurse Claudia Alivernini. "I have seen first-hand how difficult it is to fight this virus. Science and medicine are the only way we can win this battle."

"Today is a beautiful day for Italy and for Europe," commented Health Minister Roberto Speranza. "Now we have an additional weapon to fight this virus."

Professor Giuliano Rizzardini, director of the infectious diseases department at Sacco Hospital, receives an injection of his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Niguarda Hospital in Milan, Italy, on December 27, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

The first shipment of 9,750 COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Italy from Belgium on Friday, and another 470,000 doses are expected to arrive next week, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Saturday.

To date, Italy has reported 2,038,759 COVID-19 cases and over 71,000 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.