The move by the European Medicines Agency comes weeks after the same vaccine was authorised in Britain and the United States, prompting pressure from EU governments for the agency to speed up its process as virus cases surged again across the continent.
Valentin Bianchi/AP
The move by the European Medicines Agency comes weeks after the same vaccine was authorised in Britain and the United States, prompting pressure from EU governments for the agency to speed up its process as virus cases surged again across the continent. Adding to an already grisly toll were concerns over a newly identified strain that appears to spread more easily. But experts expressed confidence that the new vaccine would still be effective against it.
Dec 21, 2020 12:34 PM EDT
AMSTERDAM (AP) The European Union drug regulator recommended the BioNTech-Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for use Monday, raising hopes that the 27 nations in the bloc can begin administering the first shots to their citizens shortly after Christmas.
The move by the European Medicines Agency comes weeks after the same vaccine was authorized in Britain and the United States, prompting pressure from EU governments for the agency to speed up its process as virus cases surged again across the continent.
Adding to an already grisly toll were concerns over a newly identified strain that appears to spread more easily. But experts expressed confidence that the new vaccine would still be effective against it.
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“Now we will act fast,” she said.
Authorities in Germany and several other European countries have said they hope to begin giving the vaccine to people on Dec. 27.
“Today is a particularly personal and emotional day for us at BioNTech,” said Ugur Sahin, the Germany-based company’s chief executive and co-founder. “Being in the heart of the EU, we are thrilled to be one step closer to potentially delivering the first vaccine in Europe to help combat this devastating pandemic.”
The European regulator came under heavy pressure last week from countries calling for the vaccine to be approved as quickly as possible. EMA originally set Dec. 29 as the date for evaluating the vaccine, but moved up the meeting to Monday after calls from the German government and others for the agency to move more quickly.
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