"pfizer-biontech"

The Pfizer-BioNTech jab is one of several vaccines bringing hope for an end to the pandemic that has killed more than 1.5 million people worldwide and ravaged economies.

Britain on Wednesday gave emergency approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, with health officials set to use criteria based on age and vulnerability to decide the order of people to receive it.

Moderna also confirmed that it expects to have 20 million vaccine doses available in the US by the end of 2020.

As production of the two vaccines expands, 20 million will be reached in December, 30 million in January and 50 million in February, making 100 million total.

Priority groups will include care home residents, health and care staff, the elderly and the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Latest figures on Tuesday showed that the country had recorded a total of 259,600 Covid deaths and 12.5 million cases -- with over 2,000 deaths and 167,000 new cases in just the last 24 hours.

The scientific head of the US operation to develop a vaccine, Moncef Slaoui said Monday that the green light would probably come in December.