The European Commission(EC) has reportedly given official approval for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. 

According to Reuters and other foreign media outlets, the EU's executive commission gave the green light just hours after the European Medicine Agency(EMA) said the vaccine meets safety and quality standards. 

EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced the move, saying the vaccine will be available for all EU countries at the same time on the same conditions.

With the approval, inoculations are expected to begin in several days across the 27-nation bloc. The EC president said that vaccinations will begin around Sunday to Tuesday.  

BioNTech and Pfizer said earlier that they are ready to begin deliveries of the vaccine as soon as the EC gives a green light.