Covid-19: the United States definitively approves the Pfizer vaccine
Pfizer / BioNtech's vaccine had previously received temporary emergency clearance in the United States, now anyone aged 16 and over will be eligible.
REUTERS - DADO RUVIC
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
The United States fully approved this Monday, August 23 the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for people over 16 years of age.
Since December, he had only benefited from an emergency clearance.
The Pentagon immediately announced compulsory vaccination for all members of the US armed forces.
Advertising
Read more
The American Medicines Agency, the FDA, concluded that the vaccine was safe and effective, although it had already been administered for several months. It's a move that should help bolster vaccination efforts and convince some hesitant in a country where the Delta variant is raging. “
Even though millions of people have already been safely vaccinated against Covid-19, we recognize that for some, this authorization may give more confidence in the vaccination,
” said acting chief of the FDA, Janet Woodcock.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll in June, about one in ten unvaccinated American adults said they would be more likely to receive an injection if any of the sera were fully approved by health officials.
Turning the tide of the pandemic in the country
“
Today's important milestone brings us one step closer to turning the tide of the pandemic in the United States,
” added Janet Woodcock.
The measure "
should give more confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective,
" added Joe Biden in a tweet.
The US president was due to speak on Monday afternoon on the vaccination campaign, the White House announced.
The FDA has officially approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
While all three COVID vaccines have met FDA's strict standards for emergency use, this FDA approval should give added confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective.
If you're not vaccinated yet, now is the time.
https://t.co/XaxFdWHbRc
- President Biden (@POTUS) August 23, 2021
This full authorization may also allow certain authorities to impose vaccination without fear of legal recourse.
New York City said school staff, including teachers, should have received at least one dose of the vaccine by September 27.
The measure affects nearly 150,000 employees.
At the moment, only 63% of educational staff are vaccinated.
►
To read also: Covid-19: the American authorities call on influencers to encourage vaccination
"
We have evaluated the scientific data and information included in hundreds of pages
" and "
conducted our own analysis of the safety and efficacy
" of the vaccine, detailed Peter Marks, chief scientist at the FDA.
He said the vaccine production process had also been verified, including through factory visits.
While Pfizer's serum will be given to people over 16, it continues to be available to children and adolescents 12 to 15 years of age under emergency clearance, the FDA said.
Compulsory vaccination in the army
The Pentagon has announced that with this final approval of Pfizer's serum, the Covid-19 vaccine will become mandatory in the US military.
"
Now that Pfizer's vaccine has been approved, the ministry will issue a directive requiring all hired personnel to be vaccinated,
" military spokesman John Kirby said.
(with
AFP
)
►
See also: United States: vaccination against Covid-19 compulsory for the military
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
United States
Coronavirus
Vaccines
Defense
Research
Health and medicine