FDA Approves Emergency Use Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine In US

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the emergency use of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine.

The agency said the authorisation was a “significant milestone” in the pandemic, which has taken more than 295,000 lives in the US.

The vaccine, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19, was deemed safe and effective by the FDA.

According to the New York Times, the U.S. is expected to distribute 2.9 million doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine over the next week, the first of which will begin going out within the next 24 hours.

President Donald Trump shared the news via Twitter on Friday night, calling the achievement a “medical miracle.”

“We have delivered a safe and effective vaccine in just nine months. This is one of the greatest scientific accomplishments in history,” he said in a video from the White House.

“It will save millions of lives and soon end the pandemic once and for all. I’m thrilled to report the FDA has authorized the Pfizer vaccine … On behalf of the American people, I’d like to thank all of the brilliant scientists, technicians, doctors, and workers who made this all possible …”

Before the announcement on Friday night, the FDA had come under intense pressure from the Trump administration to approve the vaccine’s use.

Read also: Philippine Agrees to Pay Drugmakers in Advance to Ensure Vaccines Supply

The head of the agency, Stephen Hahn, was told to approve it for emergency use by Friday or quit, US media reported, although he called this “untrue”.

According to Trump, the vaccine, which will be administered to people ages 16 and older, will be free to all Americans.

The Pfizer vaccine has already received regulatory approval in the UK, Canada, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Like those countries, the US will give its first doses of the vaccine to the elderly, health workers and emergency crew.

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