UK first country in world to approve Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19

The UK will be the first country in the world to use the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.

The UK’s medicine regulator (MHRA) has said the jab is safe for rollout next week.

Immunisations could start within days for the vaccine that offers up to 95% protection against infection by the coronavirus.

The UK has already ordered 40m doses – enough to vaccinate 20m people.

The first 800,000 doses will arrive in the UK in the coming days.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the fastest-ever to go from concept to reality, taking only 10 months rather than the usual decades.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC that people will be contacted by the NHS when it is their turn for the jab.

He said: “I’m confident now with the news today that from spring, from Easter onwards, things are going to be better and we’re going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy.”

NHS Chief Executive, Sir Simon Stevens, said the health service was preparing for ‘the largest-scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history’.

Around 50 hospitals are ready to receive the vaccines – centres in venues such as conference centres are currently being set up.