The British approval is a so-called emergency approval following a recommendation from the Swedish Medicines Agency MHRA.

It is based only on the first study of the vaccine.

- The UK does what it sometimes does, that you start using a vaccine before it is fully approved by the authorities because you think it is so important to use it that you take a small risk, says state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell to SVT.

"Fantastic news"

Now Britain must ensure that as many people as possible are vaccinated as soon as possible, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

- This is fantastic news, says Johnson.

The first doses of the vaccine will be rolled out already on Wednesday or Thursday, says Astra Zeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot.

The start of vaccination is planned for 4 January.

Easier to handle

Astra Zeneca's CEO says that the company can deliver two million doses per week.

Soriot also believes that the vaccine is effective against the new, more contagious virus strain found in the UK.

The Astra Zeneca vaccine, unlike Pfizer's already approved vaccines, can be stored, transported and handled under normal cooling conditions, two to eight degrees, for at least six months.

It is seen as a great advantage both practically and economically when it is to be sent out into the world.

EU approval likely in January

For the EU and Sweden, the British message really means nothing, says vaccine coordinator Richard Bergström to SVT.

- We have a schedule where we expect it to be approved by the European Medicines Agency, EMA, at the end of January at the earliest, possibly at the beginning of February.

The EMA is awaiting a response from a large clinical study in the United States on the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

Richard Bergström has planned Swedish use of Astra Zeneca's vaccine from mid-February.

According to EU and also Sweden's planning, Moderna's vaccine is ahead of Astra Zeneca's in terms of approval and use.

-We expect to approve it on the evening of the thirteenth, January 6.

It goes according to plan, says Bergström.

The first Moderna doses are expected to arrive in Sweden within two weeks thereafter.