AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab gets approval from the EU

On Friday, Ursula von der Leyen, the chief of the European Commission, a branch of the European Union, announced that the body has given authorisation for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine to be used in the European markets. 

Leyen tweeted, “I expect the company to deliver the 400 million doses as agreed,” as the situation between the pharmaceutical firm and EU headquarters intensified over a delay in production. 

Also Read: EU approves AstraZeneca vaccine for age 18 and above

Following Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine becomes the third of its kind to be given approval for use in the 27-member bloc. 

The announcement comes just hours after the European Medicines Agency,  the drug control arm of the European Union recommended the jab for people who are over the age of 18, while member states like Germany suggested against it. 

“EMA has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation for COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 in people from 18 years of age,” it said in a statement.

Also Read: French economy shrinks 8.3% in face of newer virus-restrictions

Meanwhile, the vaccine supplier and producer welcomed the recommendation of the EMA as Pascal Soriot, the leader of the firm said, “Today’s recommendation underscores the value of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine which is not only effective and well-tolerated, but also easy to administer.”