A vaccine could be available in the UK by Christmas, deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam has said as Boris Johnson urges caution over the new immunisation.
The UK government has said it will order 10 million more Pfizer coronavirus vaccines, after news of its 90 per cent effectiveness broke this morning.
Pfizer and BioNTech revealed their vaccine was nearing 100 per cent efficacy after the two pharmaceutical firms confirmed early interim data for their experimental candidate.
The companies have so far found no serious safety concerns and expect to seek US emergency use authorisation later this month. Today is a great day for science and humanity, Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.
The announcement was celebrated around the world, with president-elect Joe Biden congratulating all the women and men who made this breakthrough. In the UK, a government adviser claimed life in the UK could start returning to normal by spring next year as a result.