Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the protection of vaccines will allow Britons to “reclaim our lives” and get the economy moving.
He told Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons: “I know the whole House will want to join me in welcoming the fantastic news that the MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19.
“The vaccine will begin to be made available across the UK from next week.”
Mr Johnson said he wanted to pay tribute to all those who have made this possible, adding: “It is the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get our economy moving again.”
Conservative MP Chris Green (Bolton West) sought assurances that people can receive the Covid-19 vaccines on a voluntary basis, with Boris Johnson replying in the Commons: “Absolutely. I strongly urge people to take up the vaccine but it is no part of our culture or our ambition in this country to make vaccines mandatory.
“That’s not how we do things.”
