Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine gains approval from the UK, vaccine rollout to begin from next week
Pune, December 3, 2020: On December 2, the UK became the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech manufactured COVID-19 vaccine for public use. Britain announced that they will roll out the vaccines for mass use from the next week. This means a big step for curbing the spread of the Coronavirus. The approval for the emergency authorization of the vaccine in the UK will pave a way for the other countries to bring this pandemic to a halt.
The government 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. The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week.”
The approval of emergency authorization in the UK is a historic moment for Pfizer as it will be a huge leap in the fight against COVID-19. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said, “This authorization 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 authorizations and approvals, we are focused on moving with the same level of urgency to safely supply a high-quality vaccine around the world.”
Distribution of the vaccine
The distribution of the vaccine across the UK will surely be a challenging task as the vaccine has to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures. The UK, at present, has ordered 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, but it is not clear how many vaccines will be delivered by the end of the year.
Two doses of the vaccine with a time gap of three weeks is required for protection from the Coronavirus.
Matt Hancock, Health Secretary said that the programme would begin from next week and the hospitals are getting ready to receive the vaccines.
Who will receive the vaccine first?
According to the statements by the UK government, it has been said that the frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents will be the first to receive the vaccine followed by older adults.
Analysis of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer Inc. along with its partner BioNTech SE, on November 18, said that their vaccine was 95 per cent effective against the virus based on the results from the data of the clinical trials. No major side effects of the vaccine in the patients were reported by the company. However, it is possible that the recipient may suffer from flu-like symptoms/reactions or temporary pain immediately after taking the vaccine.
