EU regulator approves Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine

The EU’s medicines watchdog approved US pharma giant Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, AFP reported. The vaccine is the second to be authorised by the European Medicines Agency after Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot was approved back in December.

The approval of the Moderna vaccine comes amid increasing criticism of the EU’s slow start of its vaccination drive across its 27 nation-blocs. Its inoculation campaign is trailing behind countries such as United States, Britain and Israel.

Also read: European Union meets again on Moderna vaccine but talks inconclusive

“This vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency,” EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said in a statement, as per AFP reports.

“It is a testament to the efforts and commitment of all involved that we have this second positive vaccine recommendation just short of a year since the pandemic was declared by WHO,” she added.

“Good news for our efforts to bring more COVID-19 vaccines to Europeans!,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.

As COVID-19 cases surge across Europe, pressure had been mounting on the EMA to authorise the Moderna vaccine. The regulator had failed to decide on approval at a meeting on Monday, and experts had to meet again on Wednesday.