BRUSSELS — Europe is set to approve the COVID-19 vaccine developed by drugmaker AstraZeneca as the third to be distributed in the EU.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it recommended conditional marketing authorization for the jab after clinical trials showed it was "safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 in people from 18 years of age."

It added that the vaccine can be used in older adults aged over 55.

Friday's announcement follows the earlier approval of vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

Unlike the other two vaccines, AstraZeneca's jab does not need to be stored at low temperatures and is cheaper per unit.

The EMA's executive director Emer Cooke was set to make a formal announcement at a press briefing later on Friday afternoon.

The agency noted there were not yet enough results to demonstrate how well the vaccine will work in older participants aged over 55.

But it added: "However, protection is expected, given that an immune response is seen in this age group and based on experience with other vaccines; as there is reliable information on safety in this population, EMA’s scientific experts considered that the vaccine can be used in older adults."

On Thursday Germany's vaccine committee said the AstraZeneca jab should only be given to people under 65 because of "insufficient data" over its efficacy. — Euronews