The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently conducting an ongoing review of four different vaccines against covid-19 before they can possibly start being distributed to EU member states, including Sweden.
Two of them, the vaccine from Pfizer and from Moderna, are expected to be recommended for approval shortly, says Veronica Arthurson, unit manager at the Medical Products Agency.
- Two applications for approval have been submitted, she says and adds:
- According to information from EMA, Pfizer's vaccine will be recommended for approval on December 29 and the vaccine from Moderna on January 12.
Following the EMA's recommendation, it is then up to the European Commission to officially approve the vaccines before they can start being distributed.
- We imagine a decision quite quickly, a couple of days later, says Veronica Arthurson.
The other two vaccines, if not yet expected to be recommended for approval, come from AstraZeneca and from Jansen.
Russia and Britain first out with vaccination
Last week, Russia, as the first country in the world, began its vaccination with the controversial Sputnik vaccine, and this week the United Kingdom began vaccinating its inhabitants.
In Sweden, you have to wait a little longer for a vaccine.
The government stated in mid-November that it had secured the entire population, including Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccine.
The Swedish vaccine coordinator Richard Bergström believes that Sweden can start vaccination after the turn of the year, but exactly how the vaccination will be done is unclear at present.
SVT Nyheter has previously requested the vaccination plans for covid-19 from all 21 regions of Sweden.
Of the regions that have responded, it turns out that only one - Skåne - has a completed vaccination plan.