Amsterdam's EMA building ahead of vaccine decision

The European Medicines Agency is expected on Friday to authorize the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

It would be the third vaccine cleared for use in the European Union, after the BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna shots.

However, officials in Brussels have quarrelled with AstraZeneca after the pharmaceutical company said it would deliver smaller than expected supplies to EU member nations.

Earlier this week, Belgian authorities inspected a factory in Belgium that is part of AstraZeneca's vaccine production chain, following a request by the European Commission.

Adding to the uncertainty, a draft recommendation from a German expert committee called for the AstraZeneca vaccine to be given only to people under age 65 for now.

European authorities are under pressure after a sluggish start to the EU's vaccination campaign in its first month, and the AstraZeneca serum would add much-needed extra supplies.