The UK has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for public use. It is the first country to gives its nod to the temporary authorization for
The UK has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for public use. It is the first country to gives its nod to the temporary authorization for emergency use of their Covid-19 vaccine in the UK, the companies announced.
In November, the drug maker, Pfizer and its German partner, announced that it had developed a vaccine that could offer 95 percent protection against COVID-19.
MHRA, the British health regulator, said the vaccine is safe for public use.
This marks the first time that citizens outside of the worldwide clinical trials will have the opportunity to be immunized against Covid-19, according to BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin.
“The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week. The NHS has decades of experience in delivering large scale vaccination programmes and will begin putting their extensive preparations into action to provide care and support to all those eligible for vaccination,” the statement added.
In a news release, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla hailed the emergency authorization as “a historic moment in the fight against Covid-19. This authorization is a goal we have been working toward since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud the (Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) for their ability to conduct a careful assessment and take timely action to help protect the people of the UK,” he said.
