UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, roll-out from next week

Britain became the first country to approve the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE on Wednesday. The vaccine will be available in Britain from next week, according to a statement from the U.K. government.

The emergency authorization clears the way for the deployment of a vaccine that’s expected to play a significant role in the global effort to halt the coronavirus.

Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency use approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which they say is 95% effective in preventing illness, in record time – just 23 days since Pfizer published the first data from its final-stage clinical trial.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “It’s fantastic that MHRA has formally authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19. The vaccine will begin to be made available across the UK from next week. It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again”.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said, “Today’s Emergency Use Authorisation in the UK marks a historic moment in the fight against Covid-19”.

The vaccine will begin to be made available across the UK from next week. It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again.