The Pfizer Vaccine is Now Fully-Approved!
Here’s some good news for Americans everywhere: the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has fully-approved the first COVID-19 in the US.
The FDA’s Official Statement
In their website, they published the following statement:
“Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.”
Addressing the Skepticism
Previously, vaccines were only available under emergency use authorization (EUA). This has resulted in skeptics doubting its safety and effectiveness. Many have expressed concern over the long-term effects of the mRNA present in the vaccine. In response to this, the FDA says:
“The mRNA is used by the body to make a mimic of one of the proteins in the virus that causes COVID-19. The result of a person receiving this vaccine is that their immune system will ultimately react defensively to the virus that causes COVID-19. The mRNA in Comirnaty is only present in the body for a short time and is not incorporated into – nor does it alter – an individual’s genetic material.”
Reactions to the FDA Approval
Many important figures have chimed in on this recent approval, including the President himself.
“This FDA approval should give added confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective,” says Biden.
According to Infectious Disease Expert and former FDA Chief Scientist Jesse Goodman, “What FDA is really saying is that the benefits far outweigh any risks.”
“Today’s news marks a critical moment for people who were concerned about getting vaccinated due to the vaccines being authorized for emergency use,” says a joint statement from the AMA, American Hospital Association and American Nurses Association.
Now is the best time to get vaccinated!
Thanks to full FDA approval and licensing, both public and private sector employers and organizations are now able to use vaccine mandates – a step closer to achieving herd immunity across the US. With Delta variant cases rising across the states, there’s no better time to get vaccinated than now.
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