Published 12:03 IST, December 9th 2020
'Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine offers strong protection', says US drug regulator
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"
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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.
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.
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.
(Image Credits: AP)
12:03 IST, December 9th 2020