EU OKs Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

The European Union has authorized the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna (NSDQ:MRNA) ahead of schedule, responding to criticism that it had been too slow in its mass vaccination plans. The E.U. drug regulator had planned on meeting later in the month to discuss the vaccine. 

“This vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency,” said Emer Cooke, Executive Director of European Medicines Agency (EMA), in a statement. “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.”

EMA has also authorized the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX) on Dec. 21. It has not, however, given the greenlight to the vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca, which is now available in the U.K. and India. The E.U. has stated it requires more data to authorize it. 

The Moderna vaccine is generally well tolerated by patients. A handful of patients with dermal fillers ex

Before Moderna vaccine distribution can begin, the European Commission needs to formalize the vaccine’s authorization, which could take up to two days.  

The news comes as Europe is grappling with a surge in COVID-19 cases.