U.S. FDA Approves Pfizer Jabs For People 16 Years And Older

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older, potentially signaling the start of widespread vaccination requirements, the New York Times reported.

Photo Insert: With this development, coronavirus vaccinations may soon become mandatory in the U.S.

Already, the Pentagon announced the country’s 1.4 million active-duty service members must get vaccinated. A host of universities in states like Louisiana, Minnesota, and New York will require vaccines as a result of regulatory approval. New York City and New Jersey also will now require the shots for school employees.

President Biden said he hopes the development will motivate many of the roughly 85 million unvaccinated Americans who are eligible for shots to get them.

A recent poll showed that three of every 10 unvaccinated people said that they would be more likely to get vaccinated after approval, but some experts believe that number is exaggerated.

Regulators are still reviewing Moderna’s vaccine for full approval. A decision could take several weeks. Johnson & Johnson is expected to apply soon.

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