Europe set to approve Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine before Christmas

Europe set to approve Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine before Christmas
Credit: Belga

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will decide on the authorisation of the first coronavirus vaccine in the European Union on Monday 21 December, earlier than initially planned.

Initially, the Agency had set 29 December as the deadline for its evaluation on the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, but has now planned an extra meeting on Monday.

This will still be before Christmas, a timeframe that was welcomed by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter.

Once the EMA recommends a marketing authorisation, the Commission will fast track its decision-making process with a view to granting a marketing authorisation valid in all EU and EEA Member States within days.

"Every day counts, we work at full speed to authorise Covid-19 vaccines that are safe and effective," said von der Leyen, adding that it is likely "that the first Europeans will be vaccinated before end 2020."

Maïthé Chini

The Brussels Times


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