Brussels, Dec 18, 2020, SPA -- The European Commission has doubled its order for the Moderna vaccine against Covid-19 by ordering another 80 million doses, dpa cited Moderna as announcing today, on Friday. The EU executive already signed a contract for 80 million jabs, with the option to double the amount, which it has now taken, Moderna said in a statement. This means the European Commission secured 160 million doses in total, with the first to arrive in early 2021, if the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves the vaccine. The EMA announced on Thursday it would reach a decision on authorization on January 6. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said coronavirus vaccinations will begin in the bloc on December 27, assuming the vaccine manufactured jointly by BioNTech and Pfizer is approved by the EMA as expected next week. The commission has a contract for 200 million doses on behalf of member states. --SPA 23:44 LOCAL TIME 20:44 GMT 0020 www.spa.gov.sa/w1469984