UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID vaccine for mass rollout, inoculation begins next week

UK on December 2 has become first country in world to approve Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine candidate for widespre use. British regulator, MHRA has said that mRNA-based vaccine that has shown 95 per cent efficacy, is safe for mass roll out with immunisations in country starting "early next week" among  high priority groups. Britain has reportedly alrey placed an order of 40 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to provide double-dose immunisation to at least 20 million people. 

" Government has today accepted recommendation from independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory ncy (MHRA) to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use. This follows months of rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of data by experts at MHRA who have concluded that vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness," UK government said in a statement.

“ vaccine will be me available across UK from next week. NHS has deces of experience in delivering large scale vaccination programmes and will begin putting ir extensive preparations into action to provide care and support to all those eligible for vaccination."

As per reports, nearly 10 million doses of vaccine candidate, BNT162b2 will be available for UK shortly. COVID-19 vaccine w approved by UK is also one of fastest ever vaccine to become a reality from just a concept as it took only 10 months for a process that could rmally take up to a dece. Even though vaccination will begin soon in Britain, people would still be asked to remain cautious and follow government proposed COVID-19 guidelines.

Anuncing news of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory ncy (MHRA) approval, British Secretary of Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock said ‘help is on its way’.

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BioNtech-Pfizer file 'formal application' seeking EU approval 

UK's approval for mass roll of its vaccine candidate came just a day after Pfizer Inc and BioNTech said on December 2 that y have applied to European drugs regulator seeking a conditional authorisation of ir COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT162b2 that showed 95 per cent efficacy against highly-infectious disease. formal application submission to EU came after similar steps taken in Britain and United States as a step closer to launch ir vaccine into global markets. BioNTech in a statement said that submission on Tuesday has completed rolling review process initiated on October 6. 

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All About Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid Vaccine

Pfizer's vaccine has been demonstrated to be 95% effective against Covid 28 days after first dose (i.e. 7 days after second dose)

i.e. Dose 1 + 21 days + Dose 2 + 7 days -> 95% efficacy

results were published after conclusion of phase 3 study which enrolled 43,661 participants. It found 170 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 162 observed in placebo group (those who didn't get vaccine) versus 8 in vaccine group.

Pfizer's stor plan is that it has 'developed specially designed, temperature-controlled rmal shippers utilizing dry ice to maintain temperature conditions of -70°C±10°C. y can be used be as temporary stor units for 15 days by refilling with dry ice.' Essentially, however, vaccine in its current form needs to be stored at -70°C.