WREXHAM, WALES - NOVEMBER 30: Workers perform last minute quality testing of the 'fill and finish' stage of the manufacturing process of COVID-19 vaccines, during a visit by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Wockhardt's pharmaceutical manufacturing NEW YORK - British officials authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Wednesday, greenlighting the world’s first shot against the virus that’s backed by rigorous science and taking a major step toward eventually ending the pandemic.The go-ahead for the vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech comes as the virus surges again in the United States and Europe, putting pressure on hospitals and morgues in some places and forcing new rounds of restrictions that.