Germany assured coronavirus vaccine will be approved ahead of schedule

BioNTech’s HQ in Mainz (Michael Probst/AP)

After days of pressuring the European Medicines Agency, Germany’s health minister has said he has received assurances it will approve a coronavirus vaccine by December 23.

Jens Spahn told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday that he welcomed reports the EMA will finalise its approval process of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine by December 23 instead of at a December 29 meeting.