The Oxford / AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective enough to be used in adults over 18, the European Medicines Agency announced on Friday.
The European Commission is due to stamp on Friday the EMA recommendation to formally approve the vaccine in the EU with a conditional marketing authorization.
A German scientific committee said on Thursday that there was insufficient data to determine whether the jab is suitable for people 65 and older. The United Kingdom approved the vaccine in late December with a temporary emergency use permit applicable to people over 18.
The British vaccine was expected to help Europe’s vaccination campaigns, because it is much cheaper and easier to use compared to the two mRNA vaccines from BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna licensed in the EU. But the company announced on January 22 that it will supply at least 75 million fewer doses than expected in the first quarter.
The European Commission signed a contract in August to guarantee 300 million doses of the viral vector vaccine, with an option to purchase an additional 100 million.
The viral vector vaccine was long seen as the pioneer, but was postponed after clinical testing problems in the fall. Vaccine tests reported an overall efficacy rate of 70 percent – 62 percent when participants received two full doses and 90 percent when they initially received half a dose by accident.