UK gives the nod for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine; mass immunisation to begin from next week

In a step towards the battle against COVID-19, United Kingdom becomes the first country to license a vaccine against COVID-19. The country has authorised Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which will be made available across the country from next week.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA), has already been authorized for emergency use of the vaccine before decisions were by the US and Europe. The government had given the power to the MHRA for approval of the vaccine under special regulations before January 1.

The company has said that the first doses of the vaccines will arrive in the forthcoming days. The UK has bought 40M doses of the vaccine and the final vaccine trials there, has been shown to have 95% accuracy.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said that the government had accepted the recommendation from the MHRA to approve Pfizer/BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine for mass use. They also said that only after months of rigorous clinical trials and analysis and also making sure that the vaccine has met strict quality standards, the MHRA has approved of it.

The vaccine would be given based on priorities, in which the first groups include care home residents and their staff followed by the elderly and the extremely vulnerable ones.

Although the vaccine has to be kept at -70C, the companies say it can be stored for up to five days in a fridge, at 2-8°C, therefore it may be possible for them to bring the vaccine to the care home residents at fridge temperatures.

The trial data showed the vaccine had equal efficacy among younger volunteers and those over 65 who are most at risk from Covid. Gender, race and ethnicity also made no difference.