UK to administer Pfizer vaccine from next week

The UK will start vaccinating the most vulnerable groups against covid-19 early next week after UK regulators have approved the preparation developed by US-based Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

Through the emergency route, the Medical and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given the green light to the vaccine, which offers 95% protection and is safe for the entire population, young and old, the government said today.

With this go-ahead, the UK is the first country to approve this vaccine, after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) indicated yesterday that it has begun assessing applications for 'conditional' use of these doses.

"The Government today accepted the MHRA's recommendation to approve the covid-19 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for use. This follows months of rigorous clinical trials and extensive data analysis by MHRA experts," the UK Department of Health said in a statement.

The vaccine, which requires a refrigeration level of about 70 degrees below zero, will be delivered in two doses, with a difference between them of about one month. 

According to the regulators, the vaccine will be effective seven days after a person receives the second dose, although there is some protection 12 days after the first dose.The UK has committed 40 million doses, which will enable 20 million people to be vaccinated.

The British regulators pointed out today in a press conference that the approval for the emergency route was made in compliance with all international standards and "without omitting procedures".

"The safety of the population will always have priority. This recommendation has been given by the MHRA after the most rigorous scientific evaluation of each data," insisted the head of that regulatory agency, June Raine, adding that the experts have concluded that the doses comply with "the strict levels of safety, quality and effectiveness".

On his Twitter account, the British Health Minister, Matt Hancock, wrote that "help is on the way" and added that the NHS is prepared to "start vaccinating early next week".

Raine noted that hundreds of thousands of data were evaluated and that different groups of experts, including scientists and doctors, worked in parallel to expedite approval.

Wei Shem Lim, the chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), which advises the government, said the vaccine is "safe" and "effective" and that the most vulnerable groups will be the first to be vaccinated.

The expert listed a total of nine groups that will be given priority in receiving doses. The first will be elderly people living in homes and the staff who care for them.

These will be followed by all those over 80 and health care workers, while the third group will be those over 75, followed by those over 70.

In fifth place are those who are 65 years of age or older; in sixth place are those between 16 and 64 years of age who have previous health problems and are at risk of covid-19.

Seventh place will be reserved for those over 60, followed by those over 55, while ninth place will go to those over 50. An octogenarian resident of Brixton (South London) explained to Efe that she, being a "vulnerable population", plans to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

"We need to stop this, we can't go on living as we have been doing. Therefore, I think it is a very good idea and yes, I will get it as soon as it is offered to me," said the woman, who asked not to reveal her identity. 

According to the government, the UK has 50 hospitals ready to start vaccinating next week, as well as special centres, neighbourhood medical centres and pharmacies.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the approval "fantastic" and stressed: The vaccine "will enable us to get our lives back on track and get the economy moving again". 

The news coincided with the lifting of the confinement in England that had come into force on 5 November and the application of a three-tier restriction plan - medium, high and very high - which means that 99 % of English territory will be subject to the two highest levels of alert to contain the covid-19.

The other UK regions - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - apply other restrictive measures.