The jab has been given the green light by the health regulator MHRA and will become available from next week.
The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use.
It has been given the go-ahead by the health regulator MHRA and will become available from next week.
Studies have shown the jab is 95% effective and works in all age groups.
The government has secured 40 million doses of the vaccine, 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.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said hospitals in Stockport and Salford would be among the first to roll-out the vaccine for NHS staff.
Royal Liverpool University Hospital trust is another site that will be rolling out the vaccine next week.
Speaking to Sky News this morning, health secretary Matt Hancock said the roll-out is “fantastic news”.
He added: “The MHRA – the fiercely independent regulator – has clinically authorised the vaccine for roll-out.
“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.”
He also announced the news in a tweet, posting: “Help is on the way. The MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19. The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week.
-Skynews
