With coronavirus cases around the world now at over 51 million, scientists have been working around the clock to develop a vaccine.
A Covid-19 jab made by Pfizer was found to be 90% effective this week, raising hopes that a vaccine could soon be available in the UK.
Now, incredible footage has been released, showing the vaccine in production in a lab in Germany.
Bottles of the liquid vaccine can be seen being worked on in the lab by researchers from Pfizer’s vaccine partner company, BionTech.
Earlier this week, the vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90% effective in prevent Covid-19 in participants.
Dr Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO, said: “Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19.
“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.”
The UK government has already purchased 40 million doses, and claims that 10 million will be made available before Christmas.
Brave health care and care workers, who have been at the frontline of the fight against the pandemic for months, are first in line to receive the two doses needed, as are the elderly and vulnerable.
NHS England and the British Medical Association want GPs leading the vaccination drive and have accepted in a letter to all local surgeries that everyday operations will have to take a back seat well into 2021.
"We also recognise that the additional workload of a Covid-19 vaccination programme may require practices to prioritise clinical activity," wrote Dr Nikki Kanani, NHS England’s medical director for primary care.
An estimated 975 people each week will receive one dose at each of the makeshift clinics, to be housed at sports centres and other local facilities.
Practices will be paid £12.58 per vaccination.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has earmarked £150 million to help bolster primary care services, including hiring extra doctors and expand treatment for patients struck down by 'Long Covid’.
A wider range of healthcare workers, including midwives and paramedics, will be drafted in to give out flu and potentially coronavirus vaccines.
