Moderna Covid vaccine now available in Europe... As the European Medicines Agency held a meeting on Monday January 4, 2021 to examine the application for approval from Moderna Therapeutics, on Wednesday January 6, 2021 after an unsuccessful meeting on Monday January 4, it is now Haute Autorité de Santé's turn to give the green light on Friday January 8.
The vaccine "can be used in people aged 18+ including in the oldest people because of its effectiveness and overall satisfactory tolerance profile" the French organization said, adding that "a 28-day interval between the two vaccines doses shall be respected", once the first injection has been given, at least. Moderna vaccine joins Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on the European market and is expected to complete the vaccine offer for a wider spread in the coming days.
A decision following the one from the European Medicines Agency... After a likely statement on Monday January 4, the deadline was ultimately postponed to January 6: “Talks with the EMA on the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine will not end tonight. They will continue on Wednesday”, the European control explains in a release. A meeting originally planned on January 12, before the European Union urges to bring talks forward. “There will be no further communication from the EMA” on Monday evening, the European Agency said on January 4.
A vaccine especially awaited on the continent, because of how easy it is to inject to patients, as it does not require to be stored around -70°C (-94°F) as for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Please note in France, like for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, people had to wait for the Haute Autorité de Santé to approve Moderna vaccine to be issued in the country.