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Britain defends speed of approval for Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine
- The UK’s drugs regulator gave emergency approval for the vaccine on Wednesday, and the government plans to start rolling it out next week
- Leading US infectious disease scientist Anthony Fauci on Thursday said the MHRA had ‘rushed’ approval, but he later apologised
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Britain on Friday insisted its world-first approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine met all safety standards, striving to tamp down any public unease after US and European officials queried the rapid process.
The UK’s drugs regulator gave emergency approval for the vaccine on Wednesday, and the government plans to start rolling it out next week.
Any vaccine “must undergo robust clinical trials in line with international standards”, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in a statement.
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“No vaccine would be authorised for supply in the UK unless the expected standards of safety, quality and efficacy are met.”
01:29
UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for use in December
UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for use in December
Leading US infectious disease scientist Anthony Fauci said on Thursday the MHRA had “rushed” approval, but he later apologised.
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