The US Food and Drug Administration have approved Pfizer and BioNtech coronavirus vaccines for emergency use. The decision was made by a vote of the members of the advisory panel on Thursday (December 10) local time. This is the last step in the company's approval of large-scale vaccination.
The committee recommended emergency approval of the vaccine for those of 18 years of age or older. Before the vote, some meeting experts argued for limiting it to at least 18-year-olds. They say that 16- and 17-year-olds have very poor immune systems.
Voter member of the panel and infectious disease specialist at the San Diego School of Medicine at the University of California Mark Sawyer told the meeting, ‘I just want to join the lineup of those who are speaking out for it. I think the information is very light '.
However, before approval, the FDA received a recommendation for a ban on vaccines and related organic products from the Advisory Committee - which is expected. But it will also mark a significant moment in the Corona, which has infected about 15.4 million people in the United States in less than a year and killed about 290,000 people.
The advisory committee plays a key role in verifying that the vaccines are safe for public use and in approving the flu and others although the FDA does not have to follow the recommendations of this committee.
Earlier, committee member James Hildrath told NBC's Weekend Today on Saturday that the FDA could approve the emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine before Friday. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Some people, including pregnant women and children, may have to wait for the vaccine until Pfizer completes testing on this particular group.
The FDA said Tuesday that it does not have enough information to decide on vaccine protection for children under 18 and pregnant women. The vaccine has been administered to most adults in Canada, the United States and Bahrain.