It is now the fifth vaccine authorized in Europe against Covid.
The European regulator spoke out on Monday for the authorization of the Covid vaccine from the American laboratory of Novavax.
The serum is, like childhood vaccines already widely used, a so-called "subunit" vaccine, based on proteins that trigger an immune response, virus-free.
The Medicines Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) held an extraordinary meeting on Monday to examine this request for authorization.
The European Commission had already concluded a contract with Novavax for the advance purchase of 200 million doses of its vaccine once it has been validated by the EMA.
More than 90% effective against the virus
In June, the pharmaceutical giant presented the results of clinical trials which showed an efficacy of 90.4% against the disease, and 100% against severe to moderate cases.
The technology used is similar to that used in the decades-old hepatitis B and pertussis vaccines.
Serum does not need to be stored at ultra-low temperatures, potentially giving it a logistical advantage over other sera.
Company CEO Stanley C. Erck noted that the vaccine "could help overcome key barriers to global immunization, including challenges of global distribution and vaccine reluctance."
Read alsoCovid-19: RNA, viruses, proteins ... how the different vaccines are created
All vaccines work by teaching the body's immune system to attack the virus, but they do this in different ways.
For its part, Novavax uses tiny fragments made in the laboratory of a protein found on the surface of the Covid spike.
When injected, these trigger a reaction by the immune system, so that if it subsequently comes into contact with Covid-19, it knows how to attack it.
The American laboratory Novavax had had to face months of delay due to a "production problem", in the words of a group of MEPs.
The company also said it was "evaluating its vaccine against the Omicron variant" and working on a version specific to it.
Indonesia and the Philippines have already cleared Novavax's vaccine, while Japan has agreed to purchase 150 million doses.
