Thread by @EMA_News

EMA's last regular press briefing on #PublicHealth emergencies twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

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We are now starting our final regular press briefing on EMA’s response to #COVID19 pandemic and other public health emergencies. Don’t miss our tweets during the press briefing.

Follow #EMAPresser.

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During the pandemic media have helped us maintain trust in our work. Through their questions about #Covid19vaccines and #science, their follow-up of citizens' concerns, the public was kept informed about the approval process and the role of the medicines regulator. #EMAPresser

EMA today is different from the Agency that entered the #pandemic.

We learned to be more flexible and agile in the way we work.

Over the course of the crisis we assumed a range of new responsibilities which became part of our extended mandate in March 2022.

#EMAPresser

Fast-track scientific advice, accelerated vaccine approvals and collaboration with our 🇪🇺 partners have led to the authorisation of
8⃣ #Covid19vaccines 💉
8⃣ #Covid19treatments 💊
enabling the largest vaccination programme in Europe's history.

#EMAPresser

It is estimated that in the 1st year of the pandemic, #COVID19vaccines saved almost 20 million lives.

This press event marks the 🔚 of our regular updates. If the need arises, we will hold such briefings again. We need the media to continue to report about science.

#EMAPresser

#COVID19 caused and continues to cause a significant strain on public health systems, especially during winter. Public health authorities will have to keep their guard up. #EMAPresser

Without #COVID19vaccines we wouldn’t have overcome the pandemic.

They will continue to be key public health interventions in the months and years to come. #EMAPresser

EMA-@ECDC_EU recommendation: A monovalent #vaccine including an XBB strain is recommended for the update of vaccines to be used in the autumn vaccination campaigns.

Updated vaccines could be used for revaccination, but also for primary vaccination.

#EMAPresser

EMA will continue to work on therapeutics. 💊

We will monitor any new antivirals that are easier to administer, and any monoclonal antibodies targeting new variants, which could improve the protection of the vulnerable against #COVID19.

#EMAPresser

EMA's Emergency Task Force discussed 3⃣0⃣0⃣ therapeutics and 7⃣0⃣ vaccines in more than 2⃣5⃣0⃣ meetings held during the #publichealth emergency.

It continues its work to be prepared for any new emerging health threats.

#EMAPresser

To fight the pandemic the #Covid19vaccineshad to be rolled out quickly across the 🇪🇺.

So we made sure that we put in place enhanced #safetymonitoring and a comprehensive plan which guided us in analysing the data from vaccination campaigns.

#EMAPresser

We placed extra obligations on the #Covid19vaccine makers.

They had to provide us with detailed monthly reports on the #safety of their vaccine ➡️ 5⃣6⃣monthly reports were assessed by our safety committee, the #PRAC, until December 2022.

#EMAPresser

To ensure #transparency regarding the results of the assessment of the monthly #safetyreports of #Covid19vaccines and keep the public informed, we published 5⃣0⃣ monthly safety updates providing an up-to-date overview of the safety profile of the vaccines. #EMAPresser

We have encouraged people who received the #Covid19vaccine and healthcare professionals to report suspected side effects.

Out of nearly 1 billion vaccines administered, Eudravigilance received more than 1.7 million reports in the EU.

#EMAPresser

If an unusual pattern emerged, the #PRAC performed an in-depth analysis of the reports to quickly identify potential safety issues with #Covid19vaccines.

The 🇪🇺 pharmacovigilance system showed that it can detect and manage emerging #safety issues quickly.

#EMAPresser

The available data confirm that the #COVID19vaccines are safe and add to the evidence from the clinical trials.

Most of the side effects of the vaccines are mild and short-lived. Serious side effects are very rare.

#EMAPresser

EMA and the EU network will keep monitoring the #safety of #COVID19vaccines and therapeutics, as we do for all authorised medicines in the 🇪🇺. #EMAPresser