A Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), for use in the UK.

It means mass vaccination against coronavirus can start.

It comes as the Isle of Wight enters Tier One, under the new coronavirus regulations.

Isle of Wight Council Leader Dave Stewart has today (Wednesday) tweeted: "Tier 1 confirmed for the Island - use but don’t abuse it - we have all earned this early Xmas Present - roll on the Vaccine !!!"

Isle of Wight County Press:

The NHS coronavirus app shows the Isle of Wight's new Tier One status

This morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: “Help is on its way. The MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19.

“The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week.

“The UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine for supply.”

Last week, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely told the County Press that he expected vaccines to arrive here imminently. 

He said: "The Isle of Wight is very well placed, and everything I've seen leads me to believe the Island is right up there when it comes to planning for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

"The government is very aware of the need to make sure we get a vaccination process rolled out quickly.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel."

Isle of Wight County Press: