The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.

According to details, there was immense pressure on the agency by Trump administration to approve the Covid-19 vaccine for widespread use.

Reportedly, people will now begin to receive vaccinations in less than 24 hours.

"Following yesterday's positive advisory committee meeting outcome regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, the US Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalisation and issuance of an emergency use authorisation," the FDA statement said.

"The agency has also notified the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed [the federal government's vaccine distribution programme], so they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution."

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved by United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for widespread use.

Earlier, United States President-elect Joe Biden vowed 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations for the country in his first 100 days in office.

Biden said he would not be able to end the coornavirus outbreak immediately but his government would change the course of Covid-19.

"My first 100 days won't end the Covid-19 virus. I can't promise that. But we did not get into this mess quickly. We're not going to get out of it quickly,” Biden said.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been approved for widespread use in US after United Kingdom (UK) began its mass vaccination program yesterday where a 90-year-old woman from Northern Ireland became the first person in the world to receive coronavirus vaccine outside trial conditions.

US has been the worst hit country by coronavirus and it has so far reported 16 million cases and 300,000 deaths.

Many parts of US are still witnessing surge in cases, with record numbers of people in hospital.