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The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is now in the UK and being delivered to decentralized nations, Sky News understands.
The United Kingdom became the first Western country to pass the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for use, and is expected to be released on Tuesday.
The vaccine is manufactured in Belgium and must be stored at -70 ° C (-94 ° F) prior to administration.
Live COVID updates as UK gears up for vaccine launch
Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines ordered by the UK
Previously it was brought in by trucks through the Eurotunnel.
The vaccine will be distributed to 50 hospitals next week and those over 80 and nursing home staff will be the first in line to get one.
As more doses become available, possibly in the new year, the vaccine will be given to the other risk groups.
Most vaccinations are expected to take place between January and April.
However, those in residences face a delay due to difficulties in transporting and storing the vaccine at such low temperatures.
It comes as the international community was shocked by how quickly the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the COVID-19 vaccine.
America’s leading infectious disease expert questions the level of scrutiny.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stated that US regulators would “do a more thorough job” in evaluating the vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech.
While the World Health Organization offered a moderate response to MHRA’s decision, simply stating that the approval had been “recognized.”
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Behind the scenes of the Pfizer vaccine
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday that there would be “huge logistical challenges“in the distribution of the vaccine, and that it would take” a few months “for all the most vulnerable people to be protected against the coronavirus.
The government has ordered 40 million doses of the jab so far, enough to immunize 20 million people, with an initial shipment of 800,000 doses.
Although, experts have agreed that multiple different vaccines will be needed to cover the entire world population.
