LONDON, Dec 2 - The United Kingdom on Wednesday became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 after �rigorous� analysis by its independent regulator, paving the way for mass vaccinations from as early as next week among people at the highest risk of death from the deadly virus.
British regulator Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says the jab, which claims to offer up to 95 per cent protection against COVID-19 illness, is safe for roll-out. The UK government said the approval follows a �rigorous� analysis of the data, conducted at a faster pace but without any compromise on standards.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the �fantastic� news and confirmed that the vaccine will begin to be made available from next week. �It�s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again,� Johnson, a COVID-19 survivor, said. � PTI
