On January 28, 2021, empty vials of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine were seen at a drive-thru vaccination station operated by the Lake County Health Department in Groveland.
The Food and Drug Administration will approve the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine Monday, according to The New York Times, citing sources.
According to the Times, the review could continue beyond that date as paperwork and negotiations with the company continue.
This would make it the first Covid vaccination to be approved by FDA.
CNBC received a report from the Times that was denied by FDA.
On Aug. 8, Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical advisor, told the Associated Press that he hoped vaccines would begin receiving full approval "within one month of August," and that more schools and companies would mandate vaccines once they have received full approval.
U.S. companies have increased vaccine regulations for employees in response to rising Covid cases across the country. Some companies cited FDA approval as part of their decision-making process.
People who are still hesitant about getting vaccinated could be persuaded to get it done once the FDA has given their approval.
According to CDC data, more than 203 million doses have been given nationwide of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, fully immunizing more than 91,000,000 Americans.
After receiving an FDA emergency use authorization in December, Pfizer and BioNTech began the process to apply for their biologics licenses for the two-dose vaccine. The FDA has a six month target to approve high-priority drugs.
Pfizer's and BioNTech's vaccines would continue to be available after the pandemic. The companies would also be allowed to direct consumers if the authorization was granted. CNBC reported that pharmaceutical manufacturers who have an EUA are not allowed to promote their vaccines.
After submitting data from clinical trials to the FDA, the companies announced that they have begun the approval process for a booster vaccine for fully vaccinated persons.
In a Wednesday statement, top health officials from the FDA, the White House, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that mRNA vaccines' effectiveness decreases with time, particularly for people with compromised immune systems. The officials stated that the U.S. will start widely distributing booster vaccines to the public in September.
You can read the complete New York Times report right here.
