Just the jab European Medicines Agency authorises Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for Ireland

Europe's medicines regulator on Monday approved the use of the Covid-19 vaccine jointly developed by US company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, putting Europe on course to start inoculations within a week.

European Union countries including Germany, Austria and Italy have said they plan to start vaccinations from December 27 as Europe tries to catch up with the United States and Britain where the roll-out began earlier this month.

The EMA has said there is no evidence so far to suggest the vaccine will not be effective against the new variant found largely in Southeast England that has triggered a travel ban in and out of the UK just four days before Christmas.

The authorisation paves the way for widespread vaccinations to begin before the end of 2020, with elderly people living in nursing homes and healthcare workers the first to receive the vaccine.

More to follow..

Download the Sunday World app

Now download the free app for all the latest Sunday World News, Crime, Irish Showbiz and Sport. Available on Apple and Android devices

Independent.ie