Updated | European Commission authorises Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for roll-out

The European Commission has granted a conditional marketing authorisation for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, with 160 million doses to be distributed throughut the EU between the first and third quarters of 2021. 

This will be the second COVID-19 vaccine recommended for authorisation.

Malta already has an order of 100,000 vaccines from Moderna. In a press conference today, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that Malta is looking to have 16,000 people vaccinated by end of January, with all frontliners, care home residents and staff, and vulnerable people having received the vaccine by end of May.

The vaccine will be administered to all persons aged 18 years and above. 

Earlier today the European Medicines Authority recommended the approval of the vaccine to the Commission following a meeting by the authority's human medicines committee.

READ ALSO: COVID-19 new cases skyrocket by 224 in post-Christmas surge • Chris Fearne giving press briefing

The vaccine demonstrated a 94.1% efficacy during clinical trials, including 90/9% efficacy among participants at risk of severe COVID-19, including those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, obesity, and others.

Like the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna jab will be given in two doses, 28 days apart.

READ ALSO: Check out Malta’s timeline for the coronavirus vaccination programme