Federal regulators on Monday gave full approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, according to reports.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the company’s two-dose shot, the Washington Post first reported, in a step that could lead more businesses and institutions to enact vaccine requirements. Some experts have criticized the FDA for not green-lighting the effective vaccine sooner, as a highly contagious Delta variant spreads in the United States.
Approval for Pfizer’s two-dose vaccine was originally scheduled for Labor Day but was moved up due to a spike in cases, according to the New York Times.
The company was granted emergency use authorization in December, becoming the first COVID shot to get the green light.
Monday’s rubber stamp could lead to the shot being required in certain settings, experts say.
The US Surgeon General predicted Sunday that the authorization would cause more educational institutions and businesses to enact vaccine mandates.“There are universities and businesses that have been considering putting in vaccine requirements in order to create a safer, a workplace, a learning environment,” Vivek Murthy said on Fox. (NYPost)