WHO approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine
The World Health Organization (WHO) approved on Thursday the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for emergency use, speeding up the process of regulatory approval and acquisition for all countries worldwide.
“This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere,” WHO’s executive dr Mariangela Simao said about the approval. However, the WHO’s expert group is yet to gather on January 5 to decide on policies and recommendations which should be followed during the jab’s use in wider populations.
The move enables UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization to support the vaccine’s distribution to countries in need, and comes after multiple health regulators worldwide gave emergency use authorization for the shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is already in mass use in the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
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