FDA grants full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Editor's Note

The Food and Drug Administration on August 23 announced that it had approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, known as Pfizer-BioNTech.

The vaccine will now be marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 in those 16 years of age and older.

The vaccine will continue to be available under emergency use authorization for those 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in immunocompromised individuals.

Full approval may now instill confidence in the vaccine for those who are not vaccinated, the FDA says.