LONDON — Britain on Wednesday became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use and said that it will be rolled out from early next week.
"The Government has today accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use," the government said.
"The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week."
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 toward since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud the MHRA for their ability to conduct a careful assessment and take timely action to help protect the people of the U.K.,” said CEO Albert Bourla.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was very proud that the United Kingdom had become the first place in the world to have a clinically authorized coronavirus vaccine.
"I'm obviously absolutely thrilled with the news. I'm very proud that the UK is the first place in the world to have a clinically authorized vaccine ready to go," he told BBC TV.
-reuters-
