Covid-19, EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Medicine

"Based on this scientific assessment, we proceeded to authorize it for the European Union market," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a video statement.

"I have always said during this pandemic that we are in this together," she said, adding that first vaccinations would be given on December 27, 28 and 29.

The European Commission said that the Commission, the bloc's member states and the producers of the vaccine are now working together to deliver the first doses of the vaccine on December 26. 

"As we have promised, this vaccine will be available for EU countries at the same time on the same conditions," von der Leyen said, adding that the rollout would begin on December 27.

The European Commission formally approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday just hours after it was given the greenlight as safe by the European Medicines Agency.

"I am delighted to announce that the EMA scientific committee met today and recommended a conditional marketing authorization in the EU for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech," EMA chief Emer Cooke told an online press conference.

Cooke also said that the vaccine will protect also from the new coronavirus variant currently circulating in the UK. She indicated that there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine will not work against the new strain. 

Pfizer and BioNTech said on Monday that they are prepared to deliver the vaccines as soon as they are approved by the EU regulator.