Nations across Europe are primed to begin vaccination campaigns after the European Union drug regulator approved use of the COVID-19 inoculation from Pfizer and BioNTech, amid concern about a new contagious strain of the coronavirus that has gained a foothold in the London area.

The European Medicines Agency, or EMA, authorized the use of the vaccine for people aged 16 and above on Monday afternoon.

"Today's positive news is an important step forward in our fight against this pandemic, which has caused suffering and hardship for so many," said Emer Cooke, executive director of the EMA.

"Our thorough evaluation means that we can confidently assure EU citizens of the safety and efficacy of this vaccine and that it meets necessary quality standards."

The European Commission said it will review the EMA's recommendations and formally announce if it is to move forward with treatments.

"It's a decisive moment in our efforts to deliver safe and effective vaccines to Europeans," the commission's president, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Twitter. "Now we will act fast. I expect a European Commission decision by this evening.”

The European Medicines Agency, or EMA, authorized the use of the vaccine for people aged 16 and above on Monday afternoon

ALSO READ: BioNTech confident virus shot effective against new UK variant

Leaders from several European nations, including Germany, Italy and Austria, had indicated that vaccination campaigns will commence from Dec 27 should the treatment get the green light.

EU law permits member states to grant emergency use of vaccines prior to approval from the EMA, and the Pfizer vaccine is already being used in the United Kingdom.

Over the weekend, Switzerland, which is also not an EU member, authorized the use of the Pfizer shot for people above the age of 16.

Further vaccine approvals could be on the way. The treatment from Oxford University and AstraZeneca may gain authorization from UK drug regulators in the next two weeks.

New strain

Around 30 nations, not only in Europe but also in Asia and the Americas, have barred arrivals from the UK, as the new strain is thought to affect people in much the same way as the main strain but seems far easier to catch.

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired a meeting of the Civil Contingencies Committee, which is known as the Cobra committee, on Monday to discuss disruptions to freight services, which began on the weekend.

READ MORE: Pfizer, BioNTech vaccine wins European backing

Across the Atlantic Ocean, the US Congress passed a US$900 billion pandemic relief package that would finally deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and provide resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Lawmakers tacked on a US$1.4 trillion catchall spending bill and thousands of pages of other end-of-session business in a massive bundle of bipartisan legislation as Capitol Hill prepared to close the books on the year.

The bill approved on Monday night went to President Donald Trump for his signature, which was expected in the coming days.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country topped 18 million on Monday, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. The death toll has surpassed 319,000.

By far, the US remains the nation worst hit by the pandemic, with the world's largest caseload and death toll, making up more than 23 percent of the global caseload.

Earle Gale and Angus McNeice in London, Liu Xuan in Beijing and agencies contributed to this story.