Commission approves BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine

The European Commission moved days faster than expected and approved the BioNTech/Pfizer coronavirus vaccine today just hours after a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency.

“This is a very good way to end this difficult year and finally start turning the page on COVID-19,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

The Commission had initially said it would take two days before it could rubber-stamp a positive EMA recommendation for a conditional marketing authorization, but was ultimately able to shorten its consultation process with member countries, a Commission official said.

Deliveries of the vaccine are still scheduled to leave warehouses “within the next days,” and many European countries plan to start vaccinating on December 27.