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During the Christmas weekend, the Pfizer and Biontech vaccine was distributed to the populations of the EU member states. Already in January, two more vaccines, from Moderna and Astra Zeneca, are expected to receive approval from the European Medicines Agency, EMA.
Expected on January 6 EMA decides on the approval of Moderna’s vaccine. Under the contract with the EU, the pharmaceutical company must start administering the doses within two weeks of approval. Starting in week 3 or 4, it is estimated that Moderna will be able to distribute around 20,000 doses a week in Sweden.
– The volumes in Moderna are slightly smaller than those of Pfizers. Only around April or May will they increase in number, says Sweden’s vaccine coordinator Richard Bergström.
Already on January 4 The Astra Zeneca vaccine will be used in the UK, writes The Sunday Telegraph. In the EU, approval is delayed until the end of the month, as the situation is seen at the moment, according to Richard Bergström.
– We are awaiting the results of the US study that is still ongoing. I expect an approval at the end of January. That is the message we have received from the European Medicines Agency, he tells DN.
The UK was also ahead of the EU in approving vaccines from Pfizer and Biontech. On December 8, Margaret Keenan received the first dose in the country.
– They use emergency approval, which the EU has decided not to do. EU member states and the Commission believe it is important to get full approval before use, says Richard Bergström.
EU Agreement with Astra Zeneca is one of the major vaccine deals, with around seven million doses to be delivered to Sweden during the first half of 2021.
How would a delay affect the goal of vaccinating the entire adult population for the summer?
– It shouldn’t affect. We have deliveries of other vaccines that are beginning. A delay means that spring vaccinations take a little longer, but by summer we will reach the goal.
One thing that would affect the vaccination plan is if Astra Zeneca were rejected by the EMA, which, however, is unlikely, according to Richard Bergström.
– We already have results from the British study that show good safety and good effect, he says.
With approval Initially, between 50,000 and 100,000 doses are delivered to Sweden per week. Thereafter, weekly shipments of more than 200,000 doses are expected. According to Richard Bergström, Astra Zeneca is ready to deliver “in principle immediately” after the green light from EMA.
At the same time, it does not rule out that the approval of the vaccine by the EMA comes earlier than expected.
– That can change. We have seen before how these processes have gone faster than expected. So it was with Pfizer. And also with Moderna, where the approval date was brought forward, says Richard Bergström.
Read more:
They were the first in Sweden to be vaccinated
Löfven grateful after the first vaccinations
The first vaccine has arrived in Sweden
