'Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine offers strong protection', says US drug regulator 

On Tuesday, December 8, the regulators in the United States released their first scientific evaluation of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as they confirmed that it offers “strong protection”. This means that the government might give a green signal to the Pfizer vaccine. This comes just before a meeting where the independent advisers by the Food and Drug Administration will be debating about recommending vaccines to millions of Americans. 

Read: Pfizer Vaccine Moves Closer To Getting The OK In US

The Pfizer/BionTech formula is an mRNA vaccine that uses a tiny fragment of genetic code from the virus to teach the body how to fight Covid-19 and build its immunity.  It is delivered in two doses, 21 days apart and has shown a strong immunity response kicking in seven days after administering the second dose.  The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at -70C before being defrosted and can only be moved four times within that temperature before being used.

Britain rolls out Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine 

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 8, rolled out the same vaccine. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hailed the moment as a “huge step forward” and dubbed the day as “V-Day” or Vaccine Day in Britain. People aged 80 and above, those working in care homes, as well as NHS workers will be first in line to receive the “life-saving jab”. The UK PM also warned that mass vaccination will take time and urged the public to remain vigilant and continue to follow the precautionary measures over the winter months ahead.

Read: 90-year-old British Woman Becomes First Person To Receive Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine

The NHS is set to create history by undertaking the biggest immunisation campaign at 50 hospital hubs in the UK. The programme will ramp up further in the coming weeks as the first set of doses arrives from Pfizer’s manufacturing site in Belgium. Since the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine got approval from UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) last week, the NHS workers have been working around the clock to manage the large-scale logistical challenge of rolling out the vaccine.

Read: Coronavirus: First Images Of Freezers Containing Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine For UK Emerge

Also Read: MHRA Says 'no Corners Cut' To Approve Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine, Side Effects 'very Low'

(Image Credits: AP)