The United Kingdom is all set to roll-out Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine next week
The United Kingdom (U.K.) became the first country in the world today, i.e., Wednesday, December 2, 2020 to approve the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, developed by the United States (U.S.) based pharmaceutical company – Pfizer, in collaboration with German drugmaker – BioNTech, for public use.
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine had been 95% effective with no safety concerns, during the clinical trials. The approval was given by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in the U.K. It is the fastest ever vaccine to get approval for roll-out, taking only 10 months for development and clinical trials.
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister of U.K. – Boris Johnson tweeted,
It’s fantastic that @MHRAgovuk has formally authorised the @Pfizer/@BioNTech_Group vaccine for Covid-19. The vaccine will begin to be made available across the UK from next week. (1/2)
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 2, 2020
He further tweeted,
It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again. (2/2)
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 2, 2020
The vaccine will be rolled-out in U.K. from next week by National Health Service (NHS). The NHS has decades of experience in delivering large scale vaccination programmes. It will put its extensive preparations into action to provide care and support to all those eligible for vaccination.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pfizer – 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 (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.”
Taking it to twitter, the official twitter handle of BioNTech tweeted,
Exciting news: We received the world’s first authorization of a #COVID19 #vaccine, with @MHRA granting emergency use authorization in the UK. More regulatory decisions may come in 2020. More information: https://t.co/8Fpa22leS5 pic.twitter.com/mTIO48RgnN
— BioNTech SE (@BioNTech_Group) December 2, 2020
It is a new type called an mRNA vaccine that uses a tiny fragment of genetic code from the pandemic virus to teach the body how to fight COVID-19 and build immunity. An mRNA vaccine has never been approved for use in humans before. Kit has only been used in clinical trials. The vaccine needs to be stored at around -700C.
As far as dissemination is concerned, it will be first given to care home residents and staff, people over 80 and other health and social care workers. When the second lot arrives in 2021, it will be given to everyone aged above 50, as well as younger people with pre-existing health conditions. The dose will be given in 2 injections. There will be gap of 21 days between 2 injections.
The companies have signed an agreement to supply 40 million doses to the U.K. with deliveries starting in 2020. U.K. aims to vaccinate 20 million people. Around 10 million doses will be available soon, with the first lot of 800,000 doses arriving shortly. Once delivered, it can be kept for upto 5 days in a fridge. U.K. is setting-up vaccination centres across sports stadium and conference centres. It has kept around 50 hospitals on standby.
Besides, U.K. has also ordered 7 million doses of U.S. based Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and 100 million doses of vaccine which is being developed by U.K based Astra Zeneca and Oxford University.
Separately, other countries, including the U.S., are mulling approving various COVID-19 vaccines before the end of the year. Pfizer-BioNTech have also submitted their vaccine candidate to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union’s (E.U.’s) European Medicines Agency (EMA) for approval.
