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The EMA’s approval came shortly after lunchtime on Wednesday, news agencies Reuters and AFP report. This makes Moderna’s vaccine the second approved Covid-19 vaccine in the EU. In the late afternoon, the European Commission also gave its approval.
Vaccine millions
Sweden has signed a deal for 3.6 million doses of Moderna, which is enough for 1.8 million people because the vaccine is given in two doses.
In early December, Sweden was expected to receive only half through the EU deal, that is 1.8 million doses for 900,000 people. But through an option, additional doses have been secured, both Richard Bergström and the Minister of Social Affairs, Lena Hallengren (S), claim for TT.
– It is clear that our capacity will increase, more people will be able to get vaccinated, says Lena Hallengren, who is pleased with today’s announcement:
– Every time we get another approved vaccine, it’s fantastic.
Astra Zeneca vaccine delayed
With Wednesday’s approval, Sweden will receive 11,000 doses of Moderna next week.
The announcement comes after 80,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were delivered to the regions on Sunday and Monday. During week 2, a total of 100,000 vaccine doses are expected in Sweden, from both Moderna and Pfizer.
– And then this will increase, Vaccine Coordinator Richard Bergström told TT on Monday.
The UK started vaccinating with the Astra Zeneca candidate on Monday, which is the first vaccine that can be stored at room temperature. But it will be some time before approval in the EU, believes Richard Bergström.
– I hope for the end of January. But it is probably more likely in early February. We are waiting for a large American study to take place.
Klara Stefansson / TT
The vaccine developed by Pfizer and Biontech, but also by Moderna, uses a molecule called mRNA, where m stands for messenger, that is, messenger. Therefore, it is also called messenger RNA.
Conventional vaccines introduce parts of the virus into the body’s immune system, so that the immune system learns to recognize and fight the virus if it is found again.
Instead, mRNA technology introduces the mRNA molecule, which contains instructions for how the body can make the proteins it wants the immune system to react to.
The method should make vaccine production much faster and cheaper, but it has yet to be tested on a large scale.
Source: University of Cambridge, Karolinska Institutet
Sweden has signed an EU-wide agreement on vaccines with five different vaccine manufacturers:
Astra Zeneca
Janssen Pharmaceutica (Johnson & Johnson)
Pfizer / Biontech
Modern
Curevac
Source: Government Offices, Public Health Agency
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