A third coronavirus vaccine could be approved for use in the EU by the end of the month.

This afternoon, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it expects to receive an application for conditional marketing from AstraZeneca next week.

The vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University has already been approved for use in the UK.

There are currently two vaccines approved in the EU, with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab being administered in Ireland since the final days of 2020 and the Moderna vaccine getting its approval earlier this week.

"Fast as possible"

Today, EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said the regulator is working as fast as possible to approve the COVID-19 vaccines as they become available.

“Together with the EU regulatory authorities and the European Commission we have been working around the clock to evaluate, approve and deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the EU population,” she said.

“[We are doing this] as fast as possible but at the same time ensuring that they meet the same high standards of safety, quality and efficacy we would expect form any vaccine.”

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen removes her face mask as she arrives at a news conference on the COVID-19 vaccination plan, 08-01-2021. Image: Francois Walschaerts/AP/Press Association Images

It comes as the EU announced plans to purchase an extra 200 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with an option for another 100 million.

The extra doses will not be available until April at the earliest.

Should the deal be approved by member state, the EU will have agreed to by 600 million doses form Pfizer alone.

In total the bloc will have secured 2.3 billion doses of the “most promising vaccine candidates.”

This is an important and very welcome boost to Ireland’s #Covid19 vaccination rollout.

I’ve been in regular contact with the President of the Commission and this deal will add significant extra supplies of the Pfizer vaccine over the coming months. #HoldFirm https://t.co/NE83u7KgYB

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 8, 2021

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said there is more than enough vaccine on order to go around.

“With these two authorised vaccines we have already secured an amount of doses that we need to vaccinate 380 million Europeans,” she said.

“This is more than 80% of the European population and other vaccines will follow in the coming weeks and months.

The EU said it will have enough vaccines for everyone in the bloc, alongside the ability to supply doses to neighbouring countries.