And one more! The European Medicines Agency announced this Tuesday February 16 laboratory Johnson & Johnson sought marketing approval for their Covid vaccine in Europe. This is the fourth vaccine seeking approval in Europe. Single-shot vaccine is to be stored to temperatures similar to AstraZeneca and does not require specific equipment.
As for marketing approval, members of the European regulator stated that they “could issue an opinion by the middle of March 2021, provided the company's data on the vaccine's efficacy, safety and quality are sufficiently comprehensive and robust”. They went on and said the vaccine has been submitted since December 1, 2020 to continuous analysis, as it was still completing clinical trials.
As for Europe, the initiative is hailed: Ursula Von der Leyen said the European Union “will be ready to grant authorization as soon as EMA delivers a positive scientific opinion. […] More safe and effective vaccines are on their way”. This initiative will likely lead to improving ongoing European vaccination campaigns. All in all, the EU has already ordered 200 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and potentially 200 million extra doses. Doses are to be delivered by June 2021.
