Q&A: Why is EU taking so long to approve coronavirus vaccine? German officials have been especially vocal – given the involvement of Mainz-based BioNTech alongside US firm Pfizer – that they want it approved before Christmas Pressure is building on the European Medicines Agency to approve the shot made by Pfizer and German company BioNTech. Picture: Frank Augstein/Pool/AP. Picture: JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP/Getty Images) Tue, 15 Dec, 2020 - 14:48 Associated Press Reporter As the British, Americans and Canadians begin getting immunised with a German-developed vaccine against coronavirus, pressure is building on the European Medicines Agency to approve the jab. German officials have been especially vocal – given the involvement of Mainz-based BioNTech alongside US firm Pfizer – that they want it approved before Christmas.