New Delhi (NVI): The United Kingdom today became the first country in the world to approve Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with its health authorities confirming that the vaccine shots will be available from next week.
“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,” the UK Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement.
“The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week,” the statement added, with priority groups including care home residents, health and care staff.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the programme would begin early next week.
“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,” he tweeted.
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.
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 2, 2020
Pfizer in a statement said Britain’s emergency use authorisation marks a historic moment in the fight against COVID-19.
In a release, Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla also said, “This authorisation is a goal we have been working toward since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud the MHRA for their ability to conduct a careful assessment and take timely action to help protect the people of the UK.”
“As we anticipate further authorisations and approvals, we are focussed on moving with the same level of urgency to safely supply a high-quality vaccine around the world,” Bourla added.
However, the COVID-19 vaccine will be manufactured in BioNTech’s German sites, as well as Pfizer’s manufacturing site in Belgium.
Pfizer and BioNTech had previously signed an agreement to supply 40 million doses of vaccine to the United Kingdom with delivery in 2020 and 2021.
Furthermore, the companies combined manufacturing network has the potential to supply up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 globally and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021, Pfizer noted in a statement.
-RJV/ARK
