Donald Trump announces coronavirus vaccine begins ’in less than 24 hours’

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for coronavirus has been approved for use in the United States, health authorities in the country have confirmed. The vaccine, which is thought to have 95 per cent efficacy against the virus and has been administered in the UK since Tuesday, has been granted emergency authorisation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA said that its authorisation for those over the age of 16 followed an “open and transparent review process“, while making it clear that the emergency-use approval was not the same as full approval. Describing the jab as a “medical miracle“, President Donald Trump said in a video address: “We have delivered a safe and effective vaccine in just nine months. “This is one of the greatest scientific accomplishments in history. It will save millions of lives and soon will end the pandemic once and for all.“  The first Americans will be vaccinated within the space of 24 hours, President Trump added. It comes as the pandemic continues to take a significant toll on the US, with more than 3,000 coronavirus-linked deaths recorded on Wednesday. Subscribe to The Telegraph on YouTube ► Get the latest headlines: and are websites of The Telegraph, the UK’s best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.