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3 December 2020
Boris Johnson says he is certain of life “returning to normal in 2021” after Britain became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use.
In what could be the beginning of the end of the pandemic, the British Prime Minister on Thursday (Australian time) outlined the country’s plan to begin immunising the elderly, health workers and social workers from next week, The New Daily reports.
However, while the Pfizer vaccine was “medically safe” it was “logistically complicated”, NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said.
Mr Stevens said the vaccine would have to be moved around the country at -70 degrees.
Mr Stevens said two doses would be required, the first in December and second in January. The bulk of the jabs will happen from January through to March or April.
The people who will be among the first to receive the vaccine will be contacted and offered it by the NHS.
Mr Johnson said it was a “huge moment” and he was “lost in admiration” for the scientists who had developed this potential cure for the virus that has rampaged for most of 2020, The New Daily reports.
He said the world was “no longer resting on the mere hope that we can return to normal next year but the sure and certain knowledge” that it will.
However, Mr Johnson tempered the optimism by acknowledging it was “not game over” for COVID. People would have to be patient and not let down their guard, he said.
Analysis shows the vaccine can prevent 95 per cent of people from getting COVID-19, including 94 per cent in older age groups.
The vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns were raised.
“As we anticipate further authorisations and approvals, we are focused on moving with the same level of urgency to safely supply a high-quality vaccine around the world.” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said.
The Morrison Government has welcomed Britain’s fast-tracked approval but said Australia’s timeline would not change.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said Pfizer was continuing to work with Australian regulators towards the vaccine’s approval for use in Australia, which was not expected until late January.
The latest news comes as the US registered a record daily rise of 200,000 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday.