The United Kingdom has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use.

British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for rollout next week and works in all age groups.

The UK has already ordered 40m doses – enough to vaccinate 20m people, which needs to be refrigerated at -70C (-94F).

Ten million doses are expected in the UK by the end of the year and patients need two each.

It is the fastest ever vaccine to go from concept to reality, taking only 10 months to follow the same developmental steps that normally span a decade.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted “It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again.”