Vaccine candidates have been put forward for regulatory approval. — Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) handout via Reuters

DUBLIN, Nov 25 — The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is hopeful that it will be able to produce a scientific opinion on Covid-19 vaccines seeking regulatory approval before Christmas , the regulator’s new chief said today.

"All going well we would be very hopeful that we could have a positive opinion before Christmas,” EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke told RTE radio in an interview. — Reuters