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Switzerland’s drugs regulator has approved the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for widespread use, the authority announced Saturday.
That comes after the U.K. became the first Western country to approve the shot. The U.S. and Canada also green lit its use under an emergency authorization procedure.
“The level of protection afforded seven days after the second injection of the vaccine is over 90 percent. This represents the world’s first authorization in the ordinary procedure,” said the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products.
The statement did not specify the date from which people would start to get the shots. Pfizer and BioNTech will start delivery of the vaccine in Switzerland in 2020 and continue throughout 2021, the companies said in a statement.
The European Medicines Agency is expected to make a decision on Monday after which the vaccine would become available to other European countries. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised EU countries will begin administering jabs between December 27 and 29, and urged the importance of a united effort.
According to AFP, Switzerland has bought 3 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer/BioNTech. It has signed contracts for around 15.8 million doses in total for three different vaccine options, two of which have not yet been approved.
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