The European Medicines Agency has approved the Moderna covid-19 vaccine for use in the EU.
It is now the second COVID-19 vaccine that EMA has recommended for authorisation.
📢 EMA has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna to prevent #COVID19 in people from 18 years of age: https://t.co/l9KMZlx7wa pic.twitter.com/BdvXanjOHN
— EU Medicines Agency (@EMA_News) January 6, 2021
The group's human medicines committee says it has thoroughly assessed the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine before making the decision.
The Moderna vaccine is given as two injections into the arm, 28 days apart.
Emer Cooke, Executive Director of EMA, says today's decision "provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency.”
Ms Cooke says “As for all medicines, we will closely monitor data on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine to ensure ongoing protection of the EU public.
Our work will always be guided by the scientific evidence and our commitment to safeguard the health of EU citizens.”
The government has estimated that Ireland will receive an allocation of 880,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
