The UK's medicine regulator has approved Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine for use, the health ministry said in a statement on Friday, making it the fourth COVID-19 shot available for use in the country.
The UK also cut its order for the single-dose shot, also known as J&J unit Janssen's vaccine, amid issues with the company's supply chain and reports of rare blood clots.
Britain has given two-thirds of the population a first dose of COVID-19, and the government cited the "unprecedented scale and pace" of the roll-out as behind the decision to cut its order to 20 million doses from the original order for 30 million doses.
"As Janssen is a single-dose vaccine, it will play an important role in the months to come as we redouble our efforts to encourage everyone to get their jabs and potentially begin a booster programme later this year," health minister Matt Hancock said.
J&J's vaccine is already approved in the United States and European Union, where reports of rare blood clots are being reviewed.
The shot uses similar viral vector technology to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, where similar clots have been reported.
The government said the shot would be available later in the year.
GCC interior ministers hold emergency meeting in Riyadh
Gunshots fired in standoff at Philippine Senate over ICC suspect
Trump lands in China for Xi summit
Israeli airstrikes kill eight people on highway south of Beirut
Philippines' Senator says arrest imminent, urges public to block ICC transfer
