Summary

  • PM says "the scientists have done it" after UK becomes first country in world to approve Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for widespread use

  • But he warns the tier system remains crucial and people must continue to follow the rules as it will take time to roll out the vaccine

  • England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam says "people need to get on this train" and get the jab when it is offered to them

  • Regulator Dr June Raine says that "no corners have been cut" in approving the vaccine

  • Priority list of those who will get the vaccine first is published - care home residents at the top

  • Meanwhile, new three-tier system of restrictions has come into force in England, as four-week lockdown ends

  • WHO issues stricter guidance on mask-wearing indoors and outside

  • France to carry out random border checks to deter citizens from going abroad on ski holidays

  • Nearly 64m cases of coronavirus globally and more than 1.4m deaths, according to latest Johns Hopkins University figures

Live Reporting

  1. 'No short cut by regulator'

    Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London said: "I think it’s brilliant news.

    "There’s been no short cut in terms of the regulatory processes that this has gone through and I think it’s great that we’re able to move so fast and also that the NHS is also basically get itself ready to start delivering these vaccines to those who need it so quickly.

    The MHRA is "hugely respected", he added.

  2. Hancock: 800,000 doses available next week

    Matt Hancock

    Matt Hancock tells BBC Breakfast that he is "obviously absolutely thrilled and delighted" at the news.

    "The UK is the first place in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine ready to go," he says.

    He says it will begin being rolled out from next week - with 800,000 jabs available.

    "We’ll then deploy it at the speed that it’s manufactured," he said. "And the manufacturing of course is being done by Pfizer in Belgium so that will determine the speed at which we can roll it out."

    "The goal will be to vaccinate through the NHS right across the UK as rapidly as the company can manufacture," he says.

    "We'll start with those who are most vulnerable to coronavirus," he says, saying people will get two jabs, 21 days apart.

    "It will help save lives and then once we’ve started to protect the most vulnerable it will help us all get back to normal and back to all the things that we love."

  3. When will people start getting vaccinated?

    Hugh Pym
    BBC News Health Editor

    This is the most exciting news since the initial trials were announced in early November.

    We understand that hospitals will be the first recipients - because remember this has to be stored at -80C - and that is difficult in a lot of settings. Hospitals are able to do that and have been prepared for it.

    So it seems very likely that NHS staff and some patients will start receiving the vaccine from next week.

    The vaccine is manufactured and stored in Belgium so it will have to be transported and I’m told that could take a matter of days. It’s not clear how much will be available next week - possibly only a small amount, but developing over the weeks ahead.

    We’ll have to wait for more details from the government about exactly when it will start arriving.

  4. 'Help is on its way' - Hancock

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock has welcomed the news, tweeting: “Help is on its way.”

    “The MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19,” he said.

    "The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week.

    “The UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine for supply.”

    Business Secretary Alok Sharma also tweeted, saying: "The UK was the first country to sign a deal with Pfizer/BioNTech - now we will be the first to deploy their vaccine

    "To everyone involved in this breakthrough: thank you. In years to come, we will remember this moment as the day the UK led humanity's charge against this disease."

  5. Good morning and welcome to our live coverage

    The UK is waking up to some good news this morning about the coronavirus vaccine.

    The Pfizer/BioNTech jab has been given the green light by the UK’s medicines regulator, meaning mass vaccinations can now begin.

    Immunisations could start next week for people in high priority groups. The UK has already ordered 40 million doses - enough to vaccinate 20 million people, with two shots each.

    Read the full story here.