AstraZeneca vaccine recommended for approval by European Medicines Agency

On Friday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it was recommending the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine for approval.

Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Health, Chris Fearne, was pleased with the news but emphasised that it was “imperative that agreed delivery dates and quantities are maintained.”

Mr Fearne was referring to the ongoing debate between the EU and AstraZeneca over reductions in expected deliveries of the vaccine.

Malta has ordered a million doses of the vaccine, which, in contrast with the 750,000 ordered from Pfizer and Moderna, means its impact could be massive.

Casting a shadow over the announcement, are concerns that vaccine will be less effective against a new strain of the virus said to have originated in South Africa.