EU medicines regulator clears way for Johnson & Johnson vaccine authorization

• Regulators wrote the data collected on the vaccine is "robust and met the criteria for efficacy, safety and quality."
• It would be the fourth vaccine to receive condition approval in the EU, following Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. The EU has a total population of more than 440 million people.

The big picture: The EU has been criticized for its inefficient vaccine rollout so far, especially in comparison with the recently departed United Kingdom. In response to supply shortages, the bloc has implemented an export ban on vaccines — sparking accusations of "vaccine nationalism"

What they're saying: “With this latest positive opinion, authorities across the European Union will have another option to combat the pandemic and protect the lives and health of their citizens,” said EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke.