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Chancellor Angela Merkel (66, CDU) believes that the first corona vaccines can already be approved in Europe in December, or at least “very quickly after the turn of the year.”
“And then of course the vaccination will start,” he said Thursday night after an EU summit video. The news of the last few days would give him “a lot of confidence.”
The head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was also optimistic after the summit.
According to the European Medicines Agency, both the Biontec and Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine could obtain conditional marketing approval from the second half of December if everything continues without problems.
► Mainz manufacturer Biontech and its US partner Pfizer announced Wednesday that their vaccine was 95 percent effective. The vaccine works equally well in all age groups and other demographic differences and shows virtually no serious side effects. The American pharmaceutical company Moderna recently calculated an effectiveness of 94.5 percent for its preparation.
Both vaccines are called RNA vaccines. They contain genetic information about the pathogen, from which the body produces a viral protein. The goal of vaccination is to stimulate the body to produce antibodies against this protein to intercept viruses before they enter cells and multiply.
Regarding the preparations of the EU countries to distribute vaccines to the population and establish vaccination centers, Merkel said: “I am very impressed with the number of countries that have very detailed plans.” The logistics are primarily for the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine. (Must be kept at minus 70 degrees) a challenge, less for the Moderna vaccine. Pfizer has already announced support measures.
