EU: Vaccine Targeting Omicron COVID-19 Variant Could be Approved Within 3-4 Months If Needed

European Medicines Agency (EMA) Executive Director, Emer Cooke, poses outside the EMA headquarters in Amsterdam, on June 11, 2021. François Walschaerts/AFP via Getty Images

The European Union drug regulator said Tuesday it will be prepared to approve a new COVID-19 vaccines targeting the Omicron variant within three to four months.

European Medicines Agency (EMA) executive director Emer Cooke told the European Parliament that the EMA is prepared if pharmaceutical companies need to modify the existing COVID-19 vaccines for them to protect against Omicron.