Scientists will update the UK on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine announcement from Downing Street this morning.
It was revealed early on Wednesday that Britain’s medicines regulator gave the go-ahead for the vaccine.
The UK is believed to be the first country in the world to give such approval and it will be available across the country from next week.
Dr June Raine, head of regulator Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chairman of the Commission on Human Medicine Expert Working Group, and Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, will appear live to explain the findings and what it will mean for the UK.
The briefing will take place at 10am.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will also lead a press conference at around 5pm on today’s vaccine developments and England’s exit from national restrictions back into the new tiers.
After the news was announced, Mr Johnson tweeted: “It’s fantastic that @MHRAgovuk has formally authorised the @pfizer/@BioNTech_Group vaccine for Covid-19. The vaccine will begin to be made available across the UK from next week.
“It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again.”
England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said that, despite the vaccine news, “we can’t lower our guard yet”.
He tweeted: “The independent regulator authorised the first vaccine for use against Covid-19.
“This is excellent news and a step towards normality. It will take until spring until the vulnerable population who wish to are fully vaccinated. We can’t lower our guard yet.”
