THE Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine gives immunity seven days after the second dose is given, an expert has revealed.
It means the jab – given the green-light for roll-out today – will start protecting Briton from catching the coronavirus by the end of this year.
Two doses are needed per person in order for the jab to work the most effectively. They are given 21 days apart.
People given the vaccine would become immune seven days after the second dose, although there would be partial protection 12 days after the first dose, according to Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed.
Prof Sir Munir Pirmohamed is chair of the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) working group on Covid-19 vaccines, an independent advisory group that reports to the Government.
Speaking at the Downing Street briefing this morning, he said adoption of the Pfizer vaccine will provide “overwhelming benefit”.
The independent regulators had been given “unprecedented access” to the raw data, including clinical trials and manufacturing processes.
“From this we can come to the conclusion that there is overwhelming benefit for this particular vaccine and therefore recommended to the MHRA that its use should be authorised,” he told the No 10 briefing.
“The data showed that this vaccine is 95 per cent effective.
“It is effective within all the groups who were given the vaccine in the trial irrespective of age, sex, race or country they lived in.”
He said safety was similar to other vaccines and that any side effects were usually mild and lasted only a few days.
The global trials of the jab, involving 43,500 people, found some people had a mild fever or fatigue after vaccination.
Some likened the side effects to a ‘severe hangover’, according to The Independent.
No serious side effects were reported, but Pfizer will continue to monitor this as millions more are given the jab.
Breakthrough as Pfizer jab given green-light
Pfizer’s jab has been backed by independent regulator the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), it was announced this morning.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: “Help is on its way.
“The MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19.
“The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week.”
The news means that millions of Brits will soon receive it – in line with the Government’s pledge to get the most vulnerable as soon as possible.
Care home residents, health and care staff, those over 80 years old and the extremely vulnerable will be among the first to receive the jab.
The initial 800,000 doses, covering 400,000 people, will be available from next week after final checks at the manufacturing warehouse in Belgium today.
“Several millions” more will come throughout December, but the bulk of the bulk of the roll-out will take place in the new year.
