The European Medicines Agency authorized, on Monday December 21, the marketing of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for a possible start of vaccinations in the European Union before the end of the year.
"I am delighted to announce that the AEM Scientific Committee has met today and supported a conditional marketing authorization in the EU for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech" , AEM Executive Director Emer Cooke said during an online press conference.
The European drug regulator said there was "no evidence" to say that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would not protect against a new strain of coronavirus, found mainly in the United Kingdom.
"We will act quickly"
The European Commission is expected to make its decision by this evening on the vaccine candidate from Pfizer and BioNTech.
It's a decisive moment in our efforts to deliver safe & effective vaccines to Europeans!
The @EMA_News just issued a positive scientific opinion on the #BioNTech / @pfizer vaccine.
Now we will act fast.
I expect a @EU_Commission decision by this evening.
- Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 21, 2020
"Now we are going to act quickly. I expect the European Commission to take a decision by this evening," Commission chair Ursula von der Leyen said on her twitter account.
With Reuters and AFP
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR