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The EU Commission has granted conditional marketing authorization for the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine. This was announced by the President of the Commission, von der Leyen. Vaccination campaigns are scheduled to begin on December 27.
Vaccinations against the coronavirus can now also start in the European Union. The EU Commission granted the Mainz company preparation Biontech and its US partner Pfizer conditional marketing approval, as stated by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Today we are adding an important chapter to the fight against Covid-19.”
It is the first coronavirus vaccine that can be used in the EU. In the afternoon, the European Medicines Agency EMA recommended a conditional marketing authorization. The EU Commission has now followed this recommendation. The EMA carefully reviewed the vaccine, von der Leyen said. This test showed that the vaccine was safe and effective against the coronavirus. Vaccination must start in EU countries in the days after Christmas.
First mRNA vaccine
The American manufacturer Moderna has also requested approval of a corona vaccine for the European Union. The decision of the European Medicines Agency is scheduled for January 6. In the United States, Moderna received emergency approval on Friday.
BNT162b2 is the first human messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine to be used. According to the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), the genetic information for the construction of a harmless pathogen is administered by injection into the muscle. The cells of the body use the genetic information from RNA to build the pathogenic component. The human immune system then recognizes the foreign pathogen and develops a protective immune response. Moderna’s preparation is also an mRNA vaccine.
Start of vaccination in Germany on December 27
In Germany, the first doses of the vaccine will be injected this Sunday. Until then, the PEI must verify and approve the vaccination batches. Initially, there should be around 400,000 cans for Germany. First, people over 80 years of age, nursing home staff and residents, as well as healthcare workers at very high risk of infection should be vaccinated. According to clinical studies, Biontech indicates the effectiveness of the vaccine with 95 percent.
The cargo airline Lufthansa Cargo is preparing to transport large quantities of frozen corona vaccines. “Thanks to the recent expansion of our onshore infrastructure, we are also able to process large volumes and transport them around the world and help our customers maintain the cold chain,” said Peter Gerber, head of Lufthansa Cargo. According to a spokeswoman, the company expects the corresponding transport orders in the coming days and weeks.
