Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could get UK approval this week: Telegraph

[webfact]

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine could get UK approval this week: Telegraph

 

FILE PHOTO: Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - Britain could give regulatory approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine this week, even before the United States authorises it, the Telegraph news site reported on Sunday.

 

Citing government sources, it said British regulators were about to start a formal appraisal of the vaccine, made by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, and that the National Health Service had been told to be ready to administer it by Dec. 1.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that it would meet on Dec. 10 to discuss whether to authorise the vaccine.

 

The UK Department of Health had no comment on Sunday on when the first vaccinations would be administered.

 

A spokesman said the authorisation process by the medical regulator Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is independent of the government and will take as long as they need to review the final data from Pfizer.

 

"An enormous amount of planning has taken place to ensure our health service stands ready to roll out a COVID-19 vaccine," the spokesman added.

 

Britain formally asked its medical regulator, the MHRA, last week to assess the suitability of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

 

Britain has ordered 40 million doses and expects to have 10 million doses, enough to protect 5 million people, available by the end of the year if regulators approve it.

 

(Reporting by Ann Maria Shibu and Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Lisa Shumaker)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-23

 

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[pacovl46]

10 million doses are enough for 5 million people, so everyone needs to be vaccinated twice? 

[alianware]

33 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

10 million doses are enough for 5 million people, so everyone needs to be vaccinated twice? 

Yes. I think 3 weeks after first shot. 

[vandeventer]

Sounds Great! Now if we could only get Pfizer to send some to Thailand! Remember the old folks first!

Edited November 23, 2020 by vandeventer
add

[sawadee1947]

Many thanks to German Biontec to let the world take part in vaccinations instead use it only for their own country fellows.????????????

[Donga]

This is all getting pretty exciting. Why does it not feel so, where is the commentary?

To all the naysayers about a vaccine not being ready by the end of 2020... ????

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's the problem with the Pfizer vaccine. And I seriously doubt the UK is going to be any better prepared for a wide rollout of this vaccine compared to the U.S., for the following reasons:

 

 

Quote

 

That's because Pfizer's vaccine can't be stored in the refrigeration systems found at the typical doctor's office. Instead, it requires special ultra-low-temperature freezers that can store medicine at approximately 94 degrees below zero.

 

Edited November 23, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[evadgib]

I'm surprised a vaccine is ready in just months when colds and flu have been around for centuries.

[tomauasia]

8 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

10 million doses are enough for 5 million people, so everyone needs to be vaccinated twice? 

One shot and a follow up  booster shot

[ourmanflint]

Quote

Here's the problem with the Pfizer vaccine. And I seriously doubt the UK is going to be any better prepared for a wide rollout of this vaccine compared to the U.S., for the following reasons:

 

For any developed country this is just not a problem. Liquid Nitrogen and Solid CO2 are easily available everywhere around the UK. 

Edited November 23, 2020 by ourmanflint