EU criticizes 'hasty' UK approval of Pfizer COVID vaccine: Report

EU lawmakers were critical of Britain's decision.

"I consider this decision to be problematic and recommend that the EU Member States do not repeat the process in the same way," said Peter Liese, an EU lawmaker who is a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party.

"A few weeks of a thorough examination by the European Medicines Agency is better than a hasty emergency marketing authorization of a vaccine," said Liese, who represents the center-right grouping, the largest in the EU assembly.

Under EU rules, the Pfizer vaccine must be authorized by EMA, but EU countries can use an emergency procedure that allows them to distribute in their domestic market a vaccine for temporary use.

Also Read: UK poised to become first country to approve Pfizer vaccine: Bloomberg

Britain is still subject to EU rules until it fully leaves the bloc at the end of the year.

"There is an obvious global race to get the vaccine on the market as fast as possible," said Tiemo Wolken, an EU lawmaker from the socialist grouping, the second largest in the EU Parliament.

"However, I do believe that it is better to take the time and make sure that the quality, effectiveness, and safety is guaranteed and matches our EU standards."