Doses of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive in the UK in the coming days, with those most vulnerable to Covid-19 set to be protected from the virus in the very near future.
Huge breakthrough news that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency had approved the vaccine for use in the UK emerged this morning. Nicola Sturgeon described the development as the "best news in a long time".
So what exactly does this all mean? And how significant a moment is this in the battle against Covid-19?
What is the Pfizer vaccine?
The vaccine has been developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in partnership with German biotech firm BioNTech. Unlike many other types of vaccine it doesn't use weakened forms of the virus. Instead it uses the virus' genetic code. When it is injected into the body it enters the cells to create antigens. These antigens prepare the immune system to fight coronavirus. This type of vaccine is known as messenger RNA (mRNA).
Tests show that it can prevent 95 per cent of people from getting Covid-19, and is particularly successful in older age groups. The trials saw tests carried out in six countries, with 43,500 people involved. No safety concerns were raised throughout this process.
One challenge this vaccine presents is that it must be stored in extremely cold temperatures. This makes things difficult from a logistical point of view, with tens of millions of doses on their way to the UK.
When will it arrive?
The vaccine is expected to arrive in the UK in the coming days, and some reports suggest people could receive it as early as next week.
Prior to this morning's breakthrough news, Scotland's First Minister spoke about vaccinations getting underway in advance of Christmas.
She said that she hopes the majority of those classed as vulnerable will have been vaccinated by the spring time.
Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon: "We remain very hopeful that, even before Christmas, we will be in a position to start vaccinating people in Scotland against Covid.
"The cabinet reviewed this morning the plans for vaccination, and I can confirm that we are ready to begin that process as soon as we receive the first supplies of the vaccine.
"Of course we hope that by the spring a significant proportion of the people who are most vulnerable to Covid, will have been vaccinated.
"Vaccination over time will help us all to return to a more normal pattern of life. That means that a possible way out of the pandemic in Scotland now is in sight."
How many doses are there and who will get it first?
The UK Government has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and this is enough to protect 20 million people with each person requiring two jabs.
10 million of these doses are expected to arrive before the end of the year, so there's a good chance a section of those most vulnerable could be protected very soon.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this morning that 800,000 doses will arrive in the first instance, so 400,000 people will be vaccinated at the outset.
A 'priority list' outlines exactly who will get the vaccine first, and who'll have to wait the longest for the jab.
Older adults in care homes, and care home workers, are top of the priority list, followed by those aged 80 and over and health and social care workers.
Then those aged 75 and over will get the vaccine, followed by those aged 70 and over.
The last group to be vaccinated will be those under the age of 50.
.png?w=600)
