TheCable

The UK has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for public use.

It is the first country to give its nod to the mass use of the vaccine.

In November, Pfizer announced that it had developed a vaccine that could offer 95 percent protection against COVID-19.

MHRA, the British health regulator, said the vaccine is safe for public use.

According to the BBC, the UK has placed an order for 40 million doses enough to vaccinate 20 million people — with two doses each.

Vaccination is scheduled to start within days in the country.

The vaccine is touted to be the fastest ever produced as it took 10 months to be developed.

The feat of Moderna, a US company, is another breakthrough story in the development of an effective vaccine against COVID-19.

The company had developed a vaccine that offers over 70 percent protection against the infection.

It is currently seeking the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration for a mass rollout of the vaccine.

So far, there are over 64 million cases of COVID-19 globally and with nearly 1.5 million deaths recorded.