UK becomes first to approve Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine

The Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech has been approved in the UK, paving the way for vaccination to start next week.

The jab has been shown in studies to be 95% effective and works in all age groups.

The UK has ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine, enough to vaccinate 20 million people, with about 10 million doses expected to be available for use in the UK shortly for priority groups, including healthcare workers.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland was “ready to start vaccinations soon as supplies arrive”.

Care home residents and staff and health workers will be among the first to receive the vaccine, followed by over 65s and the most vulnerable people.

Scotland’s national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch, said it would take months to roll out, but welcomed “a very important moment”.

He said: “Remarkable science, collaboration and logistics has got us to this day. It’s a very important moment. There will be months of roll out until normality but it’s a crucial step.”

Around 800,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to be available in the UK next week, with Scotland getting a population share.

The independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the vaccine had met “strict standards” for safety and effectively.

Scotland’s interim chief medical officer Gregor Smith also welcomed the news.

He said: “Wonderful news that MHRA has approved the authorisation to supply the Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.

“First of several vaccines in pipeline and begins to change everything for our future.”