UK approves Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine

It is a historic moment for the UK as it becomes the first Western country to license a vaccine against COVID. Pfizer/ BioNTech Vaccine are authorized to open for mass immunization from next week.

Here is everything you need to know:

• Over 800,000 doses of Pfizer/ BioNTech is expected to be available in the UK from next week for those most at risk.
• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) have authorized the emergency use of this vaccine under special regulations.
• The UK has bought over 40m doses of vaccine which has proven to be 95% effective in its final trials.
• MHRA has conducted several clinical trials and thorough analyses for data in recent months.
• They have concluded that the vaccine meets safety, quality, and effectiveness standards.  
• Care home residents, health and care staff, and the elderly who are the most vulnerable will be receiving the first doses from next week.
• The NHS is ready to start the program of vaccinating people against Covid-19.
• There is a challenging factor involved in mass vaccination across the nation as the vaccine needs to be kept at -70C.
• Specialist Vaccination centers are being built to deliver the first jabs next week.  
• The vaccine will also be available in Pharmacists with cold storage facilities.

PM Boris Johnson took to Twitter to announce the recent developments:

Now there is hope to save lives. Once we have protected our most vulnerable ones, we can work on to get back to Normal.