WHO gives green light to Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for emergency use

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday said it gave validation for emergency use to the Covid-19 vaccine jointly produced by BioNTech and Pfizer, the first such authorization from the health body since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
"This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines," WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products Mariangela Simao said in a statement.
"WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards."
The WHO green light will allow member countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine, said dpa international.
The vaccine had already been cleared by a number of countries including Britain and the US. The European Union approved conditional authorization of the jab on December 20, allowing bloc members to kick off mass vaccination campaigns before the start of 2021.
The WHO said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine met the necessary criteria for safety and efficacy and that "the benefits of using the vaccine to address COVID-19 offset potential risks."
The organization also said it was supporting countries plan for the delivery of the vaccine, which must be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius.