Brits will be boosted as the scientists behind a vital Coronavirus vaccine have revealed that it is 90% effective.

The developers – Pfizer and BioNTech – described it as a "great day for science and humanity".

Their vaccine was tested on more than 43,000 people across six countries and so far, no safety concerns have been raised.

Bosses are applying for an emergency approval to roll the vaccine out as soon as possible, according to repots.

A vaccine has been hailed as the best way of getting us out of the restrictions currently governing our day to day lives.

Is the vaccine safe?

All vaccines undergo rigorous testing and have oversight from experienced regulators.

This vaccine is one of a dozen that is currently in the final stage of testing to make sure it is reliable and hasn’t got any nasty side affects.

Pfizer and BioNtech’s jab is the first to show any results following a phase 3 test.

It involved an experimental approach of injecting part of the virus’s genetic code to train the immune system to respond.

This type of vaccine is known as as messenger RNA.

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Patients were given two doses, three weeks apart, and reported a 90% protection rate a week after the second jab.

The trial will continue, meaning there is potential for the efficacy rate to change.

When will it be available?

According to reports, bosses are aiming to get the vaccine off the ground perhaps by the end of November.

Pfizer believes it will be able to supply 50 million doses by the end of this year, and around 1.3 billion by the end of 2021.

The UK should get 10 million doses (so enough for five million people) by the end of the year, with a further 30 million already on order.

Dr Albert Bourla, Pfizer chairman and CEO said: “Today is a great day for science and humanity.

“With today's news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis."

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The NHS is on standby to begin a vaccination programme for those most at risk once a jab is available.

But Boris Johnson ’s spokesman also warned there was no final date and could not say how long the approval process would take.

Asked if it would actually be deployed by Christmas he said: “The results are promising, but we have to remember there are no guarantees.”

Who will get it first?

If a vaccine is approved in the UK, care home residents and workers would be given first priority, followed by over-80s and health and social care workers.

Those over 50 would then be prioritised in decreasing order of age, alongside people with medical conditions that put them at greater risk.

However, there is no priority for healthy under-50s, and the head of the UK's vaccine task force has previously said any final jab may only go to half of Brits in total.

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