LONDON (UK) – The government has given its nod to Pfizer Inc’s coronavirus shot on Wednesday, moving way ahead of other nations in the race for a vaccine and it is about to begin its most crucial mass inoculation programme in history.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hailed the nod from the medicine authority as a global victory and said it was a ray of hope for the end of the pandemic. He also acknowledged the logistical difficulties in vaccinating the nation of 67 million.
The country has raised hopes that it can overcome the virus which has killed 1.5 million people around the world and has pummelled the world economy.
The nation’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given the permission for emergency use for the shot developed by Pfizer and German biotechnology partner BioNTech. It is 95% effective in preventing the infection. This comes 23 days after Pfizer revealed the first data from its final stage clinical trial.
“Fantastic news,” the prime minister said in parliament, though he cautioned that people should not get carried away.
“At this stage it is very, very important that people do not get their hopes up too soon about the speed with which we will be able to roll out this vaccine.”
For the government which has been facing flak for the manner in which it handled the crisis, this development is similar to a coup.
EU and US regulators are analysing the Pfizer vaccine trial data, but they are yet to give the nod.
The decision of the UK has invited criticism from the EU. Its regulator said its longer procedure was more appropriate and based on more evidence.
The prime minister might now be asked to take a shot on TV to demonstrate its safety, said his press secretary.
The government has indicated that vaccines would be given early next week to those most at risk of dying once it gets 800,000 doses from Pfizer’s manufacturing centre in Belgium. According to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, tests on that first batch had been completed.
Soon after the British announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered authorities to initiate mass voluntary innoculations next week. Russia will have produced 2 million doses of its own vaccine within the next few days, he said.
According to Pfizer vaccine executive Ralf Rene Reinert, other nations would follow Britain’s example.
“The UK is leading, and now let’s see how the other countries move forward. And Pfizer will do everything to exchange all the data packages with every regulatory agency,” he said.
According to German Health Minister Jens Spahn, EU member states could have come out with similar approvals for emergency use, but Europe will move go ahead as one.
“It’s very important we do this to help promote trust and confidence in this authorisation,” he said.
Despite being bound by European law until the Brexit transition period comes to an end on Dec. 31, Britain decided to give emergency approval.
When asked if the quick approval was a “big Brexit bonus”, the prime minister gave credits to international efforts.
“It’s a truly international thing and very, very moving to see it,” Johnson said.
The approval was given in record time by doing a “rolling” concurrent analysis of data and the manufacturing process while the pharmaceutical giant raced to round up the trials.
“No corners have been cut,” MHRA chief June Raine said in a Downing Street briefing, adding that they received the first data on the vaccine in June and did a rigorous analysis to international standards. “Safety is our watchword.”
Pfizer country manager said the emergency use permit is not accompanied by any associated volume cap or threshold.
The PM said although life would not return to normal immediately, things would certainly improve, adding that the shots are not mandatory. He urged eligible people to get vaccinated.
The speed of the vaccine distribution depends on how fast the firm can manufacture and deliver the shots – and the extreme temperature of -70C (-94F) at which it must be stored. In a normal refrigerator, the vaccine can be kept for five days.
The government has placed orders for 40 million doses, which are just enough for less than a third of the population as two shots are required for an individual to gain immunity.