Pfizer vaccine to be rolled out next week after UK becomes first country in world to authorise jab

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing December 02, 2020 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines The government has [authorised the first coronavirus vaccine]( after the UK’s independent medicines agency approved the Pfizer-BioNTech jab for general use. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said the vaccine, which has shown in studies to be 95 per cent effective, will be made available from next week for priority groups with the NHS on stand-by. The newly-appointed minister for overseeing the roll-out of a vaccine, Nadhim Zahawi, said it was a “major step forward in the fight against Covid-19”. In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the Department of Health and Social care said the government had accepted the recommendation from the UK’s independent regulators, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, to approve the vaccine for use in the general population. Boris Johnson has [suffered perhaps his biggest rebellion yet]( in the House of Commons after 55 of his own MPs defied his move to bring in a new coronavirus tier system. The prime minister’s new tier system passed by 291 votes to 78 but not without dozens of Conservatives speaking and voting against the PM’s plan for tight restrictions going into December and the New Year. Despite the rebellion and Labour’s abstention, the government had a majority of 213 in the vote - putting it far from a defeat. But the growing disquiet on Tory benches is embarrassing for the prime minister, who has been unable to bring large parts of his party with him. Following the collapse of Arcadia and now Debenhams, around 25,000 staff are [facing uncertainty and fear as their jobs hang in the balance](. Many people are also left wondering what their high streets will look like if these longstanding stores close down, after a year in which thousands of shops were forced to shutter due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Debenhams, which has around 12,000 staff, announced it was beginning the liquidation process on Tuesday after talks of a rescue deal with JD Sports failed. The 242-year-old department store chain said it will continue to trade through its 124 UK stores and online to clear current and contracted stocks but once the liquidation process is concluded “UK operations will close”. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Jamaican nationals taken off charter flight in eleventh hour]( [Four killed including baby as car deliberately driven into pedestrians in Germany]( [Juno and Umbrella Academy star Elliot Page comes out as transgender]( . Brexit: What comes next? Join The Independent for an online event at 6.30pm on 10 December, as we examine what lies ahead after the UK leaves the EU. [Book your free ticket]( . More news - [Curtis Jones fires Liverpool into Champions League knockout stages]( - [Biden shows off walking boot and insists he’s feeling ‘good’]( - [The high street’s demise shows empty slogans are not enough]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.