European Union has approved the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The first phase of the 27-nation bloc's mass vaccination programme to begin later this week.

The EU’s executive committee gave the green light just hours after the European Medicines Agency said the vaccine meets safety and quality standards.

The Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said doses will be available for all EU countries, at the same time and on the same conditions. She added that the first batches of the vaccine will be shipped from Pfizer's manufacturing site in Belgium in the next few days, with vaccinations starting on 27th of this month.

European Union countries including Germany, France, Austria and Italy have said they plan to start vaccinations shortly after Christmas as Europe tries to catch up with the US and Britain, where inoculations began earlier this month.