ROME (ITALY) – Italy’s Health Minister on Tuesday said he is hopeful about the European Medicines Agency (EMA) giving its green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest, in order to get started with vaccinations in Europe before the end of 2020.
“I hope that EMA, in compliance with all safety procedures, will be able to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ahead of schedule and that vaccinations can start as soon as possible in EU countries,” the minister said in a statement.
EMA has said it has plans to decide on whether to approve the vaccine being developed by Pfizer-BioNTech by Dec. 29, and by Jan. 12 the shot being developed by Moderna.