British regulators said they had “absolute confidence” in the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine as the NHS prepares to inject staff next week.
Analysis of over 1,000 pages of data concluded there was an “overwhelming benefit” to a vaccine which is 95 per cent effective in all age groups and has “very mild” side-effects lasting only a day or so.
The vaccine developed by Pfizer-Biontech was approved for use by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency this morning, making Britain the first western country to approve a vaccine against coronavirus.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, offered to take it live on TV to boost public confidence. The UK has secured 40 million doses, enough for 20 million people, with the first 800,000 expected to arrive within