The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been approved for use in the UK – making it the first time the jab has received the greenlight by any country.
The Department of Health has said the vaccine will be rolled out from next week after being approved for use by the UK’s health regulation authority MRHA.
A spokesman said: “The government has today accepted the recommendation from the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use.
“The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week.”
It comes after studies found the vaccine to be 95% effective.
The UK government has secured 20 million doses of the vaccine, with 10 million expected to be in the country by the end of the year.
Speaking to Sky News this morning, the Healthy Secretary Matt Hancock said the jab’s approval by the MRHA was “fantastic news”.
“The MHRA – the fiercely independent regulator – has clinically authorised the vaccine for roll-out,” he added.
“The NHS stands ready to make that happen so from early next week we will start the programme of vaccinating people against COVID-19 here in this country.
“As we know from earlier announcements, this vaccine is effective, the MHRA have approved it as clinically safe and we have a vaccine, so it’s very good news.”
Mr Hancock said 50 hospital are prepared to receive the vaccine, and also said vaccination centres will be set up.