Moderna, Inc. (MRNA), (BNTX) – UK to approve Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ‘in a matter of days’ and gets 2 million more doses of Moderna

The UK has obtained two million more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Modern Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) and is expected to approve the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE – ADR (NASDAQ: BNTX) this week.

What happened: Moderna will provide another two million vaccines to the UK, in addition to the previous 5 million doses, Reuters reported.

Data from trials have shown the vaccine to be 94.5% effective. It is not expected to be available in Europe until spring at the earliest.

Because it is important: Britain is picking up speed in implementing a vaccination plan. It is on track to become the first Western country to implement a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Financial Times.

The BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine is expected to obtain approval from the country’s Regulatory Agency for Medicines and Health Products “in a few days,” FT reports.

Once approved, companies would begin deliveries “in hours” and injections could begin on December 7.

The UK has already obtained 40 million doses of this vaccine.

“With a wide range of candidate vaccines in our portfolio, we are ready to roll out a vaccine should they receive approval from our drug regulator, starting with those who will benefit the most,” said the UK health minister.

Price action: Moderna shares rose 1.08% and closed at $ 128.40 in the after-hours session. Pfizer shares were trading at $ 37.27, up 0.11% in after-hours markets on Friday. BioNTech fell 0.082% to close at $ 109.90.