US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has applied for authorisation for its coronavirus vaccine in the EU with a decision possible by the middle of March, Europe's drugs regulator.

The single-shot vaccine would be the fourth jab to be approved for use across the 27-nation European Union if it gets the green light from the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency.

“EMA has received an application for conditional marketing authorisation for a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Janssen-Cilag International”, J&J's European subsidiary, the watchdog said.

AFP reported that the regulator “could issue an opinion by the middle of March 2021, provided the company's data on the vaccine's efficacy, safety and quality are sufficiently comprehensive and robust”.