By Vaccine approved for use next week in UK
The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use.
The regulator, the MHRA, says the jab is safe for roll out next week.
Immunisations could start within days for people who need it the most.
Studies have shown the jab is 95% effective and works in all age groups.
The government has secured 40 million doses of the vaccine, which needs to be refrigerated at -70C (-94F).
Ten million doses are expected in the UK by the end of the year and patients need two each.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the news on Twitter this morning, saying: “Help is on its way. The MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19. The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week. The UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine for supply.”
Then speaking to Sky News he said: “The MHRA – the fiercely independent regulator – has clinically authorised the vaccine for roll-out.
“The NHS stands ready to make that happen so from early next week we will start the programme of vaccinating people against COVID-19 here in this country.
“As we know from earlier announcements, this vaccine is effective, the MHRA have approved it as clinically safe and we have a vaccine, so it’s very good news.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The government has today accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use.
“This follows months of rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data by experts at the MHRA who have concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.”
