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* UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
* First in world to approve Pfizer vaccine
* Vaccine roll out from early next week
* 'Very good news' - health secretary
(Adds details)
By Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Sandle
LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Britain on Wednesday became the
first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 vaccine for use and said that it will be rolled out
from early next week.
A vaccine is seen as the best chance for the world to get
back to some semblance of normality amid a global pandemic which
has killed nearly 1.5 million people and upended the global
economy.
"The government has today accepted the recommendation from
the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for
use," the government said.
"The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next
week."
Britain's vaccine committee will decide which priority
groups will get the jab first such as care home residents,
health and care staff, the elderly and people who are clinically
extremely vulnerable.
Both Pfizer-BioNTech and U.S. biotech firm Moderna have
reported preliminary findings of more than 90% effectiveness -
an unexpectedly high rate - in trials of their vaccines, which
are both based on new messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.
Pfizer said Britain's emergency use authorization marks a
historic moment in the fight against COVID-19.
"This authorization is a goal we have been working toward
since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud
the MHRA for their ability to conduct a careful assessment and
take timely action to help protect the people of the U.K.,” said
CEO Albert Bourla.
"As we anticipate further authorizations and approvals, we
are focused on moving with the same level of urgency to safely
supply a high-quality vaccine around the world."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the programme would begin
early next week. Hospitals, he said, were already ready to
receive it.
"It is very good news," Hancock said.
(Editing by Kate Holton and Carmel Crimmins)
