Moderna has said that deliveries of its coronavirus vaccine to EU and EEA Member States will begin today. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last week revealed that Ireland had pre-ordered 875,000 doses of the vaccine.
Like the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, it takes two injections spaced out over several weeks for Moderna's version to reach maximum effectiveness.
It poses fewer logistical challenges, however, as it requires storage only at -20 Celsius rather than around -80C for Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine. "This is an important day for Europe and its citizens in the fight against Covid-19," said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. "The Moderna team has worked tirelessly to deliver a vaccine with 94% efficacy in less than 12 months since the virus