The world’s leading scientists have expressed delight, along with a strong note of caution, at the news that a vaccine against coronavirus has proved 90% effective in early results.
The vaccine, developed by pharma giant Pfizer and its partner BioNtech, has been tested on 43,500 people in 6 countries with no safety concerns raised so far.
England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said he was hopeful the vaccine could begin to be available by Christmas and more widely by next spring.
Boris Johnson said that “one significant hurdle” had been cleared but there were several more to go. And some experts pointed out that the announcement was made on the basis of very early analysis, with the vaccine not yet formally approved.
International stock markets climbed following the announcement. Among the companies to benefit were airlines, hotels and travel firms which have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Huw Edwards presents BBC News at Ten reporting by medical editor Fergus Walsh and business editor Simon Jack.
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