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LONDON: Britain became the world’s first Western country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday (December 2), ahead of the United States and Europe after its regulator authorized a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for use by emergency in record time. .
The vaccine will be launched early next week in a major blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government, which has faced criticism for its handling of the coronavirus crisis with Britain suffering the worst official death toll from COVID- 19 in Europe.
A vaccine is seen as the best chance for the world to return to something close to normal amid a global pandemic that has killed nearly 1.5 million people and disrupted the world economy.
“The government today accepted the recommendation of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech for use,” the government said.
Britain touted the approval as a global victory and a ray of good hope amid sadness as great powers rush to approve a series of vaccines and inoculate their citizens.
“Obviously, I am absolutely thrilled with the news, very proud that the UK is the first place in the world to have a clinically licensed vaccine,” said British Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
He added that the UK expects to have “millions of doses” by the end of the year.
China has already approved three experimental vaccines on an emergency basis and inoculated about 1 million people since July. Russia has been vaccinating front-line workers after approving their Sputnik V injection in August before completing late-stage safety and efficacy tests.
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‘HISTORIC MOMENT’
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have said that their vaccine is 95% effective in preventing disease, much more than expected.
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 towards since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud the MHRA for its ability to conduct a careful assessment and take timely action to help protect the people of the UK. “said CEO Albert. Bourla.
“As we anticipate more authorizations and approvals, we are focused on moving forward with the same level of urgency to safely deliver a high-quality vaccine around the world.”
Britain’s drug regulator approved the vaccine in record time. His US counterpart will meet on December 10 to discuss whether to recommend the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine and the European Medicines Agency said it could give emergency approval for the injection before December 29.
“The data submitted to regulatory agencies around the world is the result of a scientifically rigorous and highly ethical research and development program,” said Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech.
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ONLINE FIRST?
Britain’s vaccine committee will decide which priority groups will get the vaccine first: nursing home residents, health and care personnel, the elderly and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable will be first in line.
Britain has established three routes to get the vaccine into the country, a program it has described as “challenging” because it must be shipped and stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius or below.
Hancock said 50 hospitals have been established in England and they are waiting to accept the vaccine.
Large vaccination centers are also being established, and over time, local health centers known as general practitioners and pharmacists will provide the injection in the community if they have those capabilities.
The community element is likely to take a bigger role if a rival vaccine from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is approved, because it doesn’t need such cold storage and is easier to administer, Hancock added.
Pfizer has said that its vaccine can be stored for up to five days at standard refrigerator temperatures, or up to 15 days in an insulated shipping box.
Johnson said last month that Britain had ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, enough for just under a third of the population, since it takes two injections of the vaccine per person to gain immunity.
Other pioneers in the vaccine race include American biotech firm Moderna, which has said its injection is 94% successful in late-stage clinical trials. Moderna and Pfizer have developed their shots using new messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.
AstraZeneca said last month that its COVID-19 injection, which is based on traditional vaccine technology, was 70 percent effective in pivotal trials and could be up to 90 percent effective.
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