18 Dec

The European Union says its member countries will start vaccinations against COVID-19 on December 27.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, announced on Thursday that inoculations will start from December 27, 28 and 29.

The EU's regulator, the European Medicines Agency, will recommend the commission to approve a vaccine developed by US drug firm Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech as early as Monday.

The commission said if the EMA's experts confirm that the vaccine is safe and effective, it will authorize its use after consulting the EU member nations.

Distribution of the first batch of the vaccine is expected to start on December 26.

Inoculations using the vaccine are already underway in Britain and the United States.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted, "It's Europe's moment."

A vaccine developed by US company Moderna is being screened by the EMA for approval.

nhk