Europe's drug regulator EMA has recommended extending the storage time for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at normal fridge temperatures to 31 days from five days.

EMA is in continuous dialogue with the marketing authorisation holders of Covid-19 vaccines as they seek to make manufacturing improvements to enhance vaccine distribution in the EU," the watchdog said.

The EU has allowed for ramped-up production of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the region and is eyeing a new deal to secure more doses of the shot after the bloc was hit by cuts in the supply of AstraZeneca's vaccine.

The need for transport and storage at very low temperatures has been one of the major disadvantages of the Pfizer jab.

In February, the United States approved storage and transport of the Pfizer vaccine at standard freezer temperatures of -15 to -25C for up to two weeks, as opposed to between -80 to -60C that it usually requires.