| Corona 19 vaccine developed by Pfizer © AFP=News1 |
Reuters reported on the 21st that the European Union (EU) executive committee finally approved a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer of the United States and Bioentech of Germany.
EU countries can now start vaccination immediately. However, considering the time it takes to distribute the vaccine, the first vaccination is expected to be on the 27th.
Earlier, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), an EU-affiliated organization, recommended conditional marketing approval today, saying that the benefits of Pfizer vaccine outweigh the risks.
The EMA was initially scheduled to decide whether to approve the Pfizer vaccine by the 29th, but at the request of each country, the schedule was advanced by more than a week. The AFP news agency reported that the EMA’s advancement of vaccine approval was due to pressure from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office and the German Ministry of Health.
In response, EU Commissioner Urzula Ponderrayen tweeted on the day, “EMA has just announced a positive scientific position on the bioentech/Pfizer vaccine. I look forward to your decision.”
As he predicted, the EU Commission finally approved the Pfizer vaccine this afternoon.
Chairman Fon der Reien has already announced through his Twitter that vaccinations will begin across the EU on the 27th and 29th.
He hopes that 27 member states will start vaccinating the same day to show the unity of EU member states.
Member countries such as Germany, France and Bulgaria also announced that they plan to start vaccinating the Pfizer vaccine on the 27th.
The Pfizer vaccine showed a 95% preventive effect in phase 3 clinical trials involving more than 43,000 people.
EMA will hold a meeting on the 6th of next month to evaluate the marketing approval of the US modder or vaccine.
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