The first batch of mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech has arrived in Finland, according to the Director of Diagnostic Services at Helsinki University Hospital Lasse Lehtonen.
A "considerable amount" the vaccine has been submitted to HUS, Lehtonen said, and the district is now awaiting a marketing authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) before it can be introduced.
Inside something opinion According to the EMA released on Tuesday, an extraordinary meeting of the CHMP is scheduled for December 21 to evaluate the Pfizer-BioNTech application.
"The speed of progress will depend on a thorough and complete assessment of quality, safety and efficacy and will be determined on the basis of additional information provided by the company in order to answer the questions raised during the assessment," the statement was read.
The European Commission is due to grant a marketing authorization to all EU Member States at the same time on the basis of the EMA decision.
Lehtonen said that Finland’s largest hospital pharmacy, HUS Pharmacy, has been selected to organize and manage the distribution of the vaccine, because the unit has experience in handling complex dosage forms.
"The Pfizer vaccine must be stored on deep ice, which is why the HUS pharmacy has been chosen as the distributor," he explained.
Pending a marketing authorization, the vaccine may be available as early as January, Lehtonen added when it is given to healthcare professionals and at-risk groups – before it becomes more common.
"It may still be a few months to wait, but if we get to the holiday, weโre the worst over," Lehtonen said.
Source: The Nordic Page