The UK on Wednesday became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine for the coronavirus.

Dr Fauci on Wednesday had told Fox News that the UK did not review the vaccine "as carefully" as US health regulators, although he implied that the US would quickly also be in a position to approve a vaccine. "We'll be there. We'll be there very soon," he added.

But officials in the UK believe the US and EU are likely to approve the vaccine soon.