(Updates with context on German vaccination campaign, COVID-19
stats)
By Kirsti Knolle and Douglas Busvine
BERLIN, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Germany expects the European
Union to give rapid approval to the coronavirus vaccine
developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca that was
cleared for use in Britain on Wednesday, its top vaccines
official said.
Berlin's support for AstraZeneca comes as EU member
countries seek to fill supply chains for vaccination drives that
began last weekend using a shot from Pfizer and BioNTech
- the only one to win EU approval so far.
Germany has made relatively quick headway, reporting a total
of 78,000 shots administered, but there have been reports of
setbacks with some vaccination centres shutting down temporarily
due to supply shortages.
Fatalities linked to COVID-19 in Germany hit a record daily
high of 1,129 on Wednesday, bringing total deaths to 32,107, as
local health authorities caught up with a Christmas reporting
backlog. Total confirmed cases reached 1.69 million.
Klaus Cichutek, head of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, said
that, thanks to the rolling EU review of the AstraZeneca
vaccine, it would be possible to take a quick decision once a
formal application was submitted.
No such application had been received by the European
Medicines Agency (EMA) by Wednesday morning, Cichutek told
reporters, but a debate in its councils would follow as soon as
it arrived.
"Once the application is submitted a decision can be taken
quickly," Cichutek told a news conference.
"THOROUGH AND QUICK"
German Health Minister Jens Spahn urged "a thorough and
quick examination" of the AstraZeneca vaccine by EMA, in
addition to the expected clearance of a shot from Moderna
in early January.
"Vaccination is the key to getting out of this pandemic,"
Spahn told reporters.
"Preventing death and suffering is key. It is the key to
getting our normal lives back."
Spahn confirmed that Germany expected to take delivery of
1.3 million doses of the Pfizer shot by the end of the year.
But, even with increased supply going into early 2021, it
would take months to inoculate the wider population.
"I can only appeal for patience," he said. "Please don't
forget that we have a vaccine ... that is reason enough for joy
and optimism."
Amid heightened contagion, continued strong reductions of
social contacts would continue to be necessary, officials said.
"It will take months until enough people are vaccinated to
reduce the circulation of the virus in the population," said
Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute responsible for
coordinating Germany's pandemic response.
Federal and regional leaders are due to convene in the New
Year to discuss whether to extend lockdown measures imposed
before Christmas that are due to remain in force until at least
Jan. 10.
(Writing by Douglas Busvine; Editing by John Stonestreet and
Alison Williams)