The Oxford / AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective enough to use in adults over 18 years old, the European Medicines Agency announced Friday.
The European Commission is expected to stamp the EMA’s recommendation to formally approve the vaccine in the EU with a conditional marketing authorization later Friday.
A German scientific committee said on Thursday that there was not enough data to know whether the shot is suitable for people over 65. The UK approved the vaccine in late December with a temporary emergency use authorization that applies to people over 18 years old.
The British vaccine was expected to help the lagging vaccination campaigns in Europe, as it is much cheaper and easier to use compared to the two BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna licensed mRNA vaccines in the EU. But the company announced on Jan. 22 that it will provide at least 75 million fewer doses than expected in the first quarter.
The European Commission signed a contract in August to secure 300 million doses of the viral vector vaccine, with the option to purchase an additional 100 million.
The viral vector vaccine was long seen as the front runner, but was delayed after problems with clinical trials in the fall. The vaccine studies reported an overall efficacy of 70 percent – 62 percent when participants received two full doses and 90 percent when they were initially accidentally given half a dose.