Pfizer’s COVID vaccine is ready to be distributed from the beginning of December. (Reuters)

With the information that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine can stop greater than 90% of individuals getting the illness, the race is on for international locations to purchase up as many doses as doable.

There are at the moment greater than 200 vaccine candidates for coronavirus all over the world however none have but been authorised for normal use.

Pfizer’s jab, that’s being manufactured in Belgium, is now the main target of consideration as a approach out of the pandemic and months of restrictions.

Pfizer say they anticipate to supply as much as 50 million vaccine doses globally in 2020 and as much as 1.three billion doses in 2021.

Boris Johnson cautiously welcomed the information of a possible COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer. (Getty)

Earlier this 12 months, the federal government ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine – sufficient for a few third of the UK inhabitants.

Every individual would want two doses of the vaccine, taken 21 days aside.

Commenting on the acquisition of Pfizer’s vaccine, Boris Johnson advised a press convention on Monday: “That places us in direction of the entrance of the worldwide pack on a per capita foundation – and I ought to add we’ve ordered over 300 million doses from 5 different vaccine candidates as nicely.”

Watch: Boris Johnson urges warning over Pfizer vaccine announcement

‘Early days’

Regardless of the information of a vaccine breakthrough, Johnson urged warning and requested the general public to stay to the present COVID guidelines.

The prime minister stated the Pfizer vaccine information was an indication the “scientific cavalry” was on its approach, however burdened it was “very, very early days”.

He stated that the vaccine had cleared a “vital hurdle” however there have been extra to cross earlier than it may very well be used.

Johnson repeatedly said whereas we won’t depend on a vaccine as an answer to the pandemic, international locations are actually vying for a drug that would assist unlock economies and have a huge effect on public well being.

Right here is who’s on the entrance of the vaccine queue…

European Union

Offers have been made for Pfizer to produce EU international locations with 300 million doses of their vaccine.

The vaccine is being purchased on behalf of all 27 EU member states, and the states “can determine to donate the vaccine to decrease and middle-income international locations or to redirect it to different European international locations,” the European Fee (EC) stated.

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German well being minister Jens Spahn stated on Monday that Europeans would begin to be given the jab from the start of 2021, with well being employees and high-risk teams the primary in line.

Italy will obtain 13.6% of the primary 200m doses from the EU’s allocation.

The EC has additionally reached a primary settlement with the pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca to buy a possible COVID vaccine, with an choice to buy 100 million extra, on behalf of EU international locations.

A view of Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium in Puurs, Belgium, the place a COVID-19 vaccine is being developed. (AP)

Japan

Some 120 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine have been purchased up by Japan, that are as a result of be supplied within the first half of 2021.

The nation has additionally ordered 120 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine candidate, starting with 30 million doses by March subsequent 12 months.

United States

The US has bought 100 million doses of Pfizer’s jab, with an possibility for an additional 500 million to inoculate residents.

The deal, price practically $2 billion (£1.5 billion), would see 50 million Individuals given the jab, which may very well be distributed earlier than the tip of the 12 months.

The White Home has additionally made offers for vaccines, together with 100 million doses from Moderna, in addition to from Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi.

There are at the moment greater than 200 vaccine candidates for coronavirus all over the world. (Getty)

United Kingdom

With 40 million doses bought, the UK has sufficient of the Pfizer vaccine to manage to a 3rd of the inhabitants.

Nonetheless, the British public are prone to be among the many first on the earth to obtain the jab, with 10 million anticipated this 12 months, in line with well being secretary Matt Hancock.

The UK’s medicines regulator might approve the Pfizer jab inside days of a licence software being submitted as a result of rolling evaluation of the information, that means distribution might start as early as the start of December.

Well being secretary stated he anticipated Britons to start out receiving Pfizer’s jab from December. (Getty)

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam described the vaccine announcement as a “large milestone” and stated he was “hopeful” that it might begin to be given out by Christmas.

The UK has purchased up 340 million doses of six prototype vaccines – greater than another nation – with firms together with Janssen, Novavax and GlaxoSmithKline.

An extra settlement has been signed with AstraZeneca and the College of Oxford for his or her jab, which might produce 100 million doses for the UK.

The stockpile would imply there could be sufficient for everybody within the UK to have 5 doses of the vaccine.

Watch: Are you able to catch coronavirus twice?

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