The Food and Drug Administration grants full approval for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination which many physicians hope will lead to more vaccine mandates. Tulane Epidemiologist Doctor Susan Hassig said the Pfizer vaccine is now fully approved for ages 16 and up.
“Which means that high schools could mandate vaccination for students 16 and above. Colleges can mandate vaccinations for all of their students their faculty, their staff,” said Hassig.
Two-point-two million people in Louisiana have started the vaccination series. That is 48-percent of the state’s population and 40-percent of the state’s residents are fully vaccinated. Hassig hopes full approval will increase vaccination rates.
“So, I think that this is a final step that may provide just the level of comfort to people that have been hesitant and feeling more comfortable with a fully FDA-approved medication,” said Hassig
Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines have yet to receive full approval but, Hassig anticipates they will follow the EUA timeline and receive full approval within a month and three months respectively. But Hassig said there’s plenty of the Pfizer vaccine available in the US.
“So that gives institutions that wish to mandate vaccination plenty of free space to do that,” said Hassig.
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