The Pfizer anti-coronavirus vaccine is already the medication with the widest age range of the three major options. It’s now the first to receive full authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA granted its official blessing Monday morning, meaning the Pfizer drug has shown enough effectiveness and safety data to meet what’s called the Biologics License Application requirements — meaning six months of safety data from a large clinical trial.
Flint Hills Community Health Center Marketing Manager Justin Ogleby says it’s good news, especially for people who may be hesitant about the vaccine’s safety.
Pfizer was the first pharmaceutical company to ask for full authorization, and that step will likely be coming from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson in the coming weeks. All three have been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA. Health officials are hoping this will lead to less concerns about the vaccines, which have been growing since before vaccines became available in January, but this could also lead to more public and private vaccine mandates.
Pfizer is currently allowed for patients ages 12 and up, although the full authorization is currently only for patients ages 16 and up. Emergency use authorization stilll stands or patients ages 12-15. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are allowed for patients ages 18 and over.
