COVID-19: EU authorises Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine, inoculation to begin from Dec 27

European Union on December 21 authorised Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, with first phase of bloc’s mass iculation programme to begin later this week. European Medicines ncy (EMA) said that it was recommending shot be licensed for use in people over 16 years of with some exceptions. In a press briefing, President of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen called latest move “an important chapter” in EU’s fight against COVID-19 and ded that vaccine will w be available for all EU countries at same time and on same conditions. 

Von der Leyen said, “ European Medicines ncy (EMA) assessed this vaccine thoroughly, and it concluded that it is safe and effective against Covid-19. As we have promised, this vaccine will be available for all EU countries, at same time, on same conditions”. 

“This is a very good way to end this difficult year, and to finally start turning p on Covid-19,” she ded. 

RE: NBA Won't "jump Line In Any Form" To Get Vaccinations: am Silver

Vaccinations to begin from Dec 27 

Von der Leyen informed that first batches of vaccine would be shipped from Pfizer’s manufacturing site in Belgium in next few days, with vaccinations starting on December 27. Furr, she ded that EU drug regulator would deliver ir verdict on Moderna’s vaccine on January 6, potentially giving Europe a second tool with which to battle unprecedented pandemic early in new year. 

RE: US President-elect Joe Biden Joins List Of World Leers To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine On TV

According to CNN, Harald Enzmann, who is chair of EMA’s Committee for Medical Products for Human Use (CHMP), said that ncy realised that speed at which vaccine has been authorised has been a “cause of concern”. However, he ded that data that EMA has analysed and assessment of data have met standards for “robustness and quality”. Enzmann also ded that people should continue to keep wearing masks, socially distance and wash ir hands, given that vaccine trials haven’t been able to give scientists a clear picture of how vaccines affect transmission. 

Meanwhile, EU authorisation of Pfizer vaccine comes as a new strain of coronavirus has been detected in countries across Europe. With over 1,000 cases of variant discovered in UK, scientists are puzzled to determine if variant, named as VUI-202012/01, falls into which category or if it represents an increased health risk especially when some nations began ministering COVID-19 vaccines among people. On Monday, EMA’s he of Anti-infectives and Vaccines Marco Cavaleri said that it was “really too early” to say if new variant of virus would compromise strength of vaccine, but that “for time being we are t worried”. 

RE: Turkey Vaccine Volunteers Share ir Experience

RE: US Official Urges Trump To Get COVID-19 Vaccine To 'generate More Confidence' In Public