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Governing bodies can now make formal vaccine requirements.

While the United States has successfully administered over 200 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, it has been, up to this point, on a strictly voluntary basis. The reason for this was that the vaccine was only authorized by the FDA for emergency use for the purpose of fighting the pandemic, pending additional in-depth study. As of today, though, the numbers have confirmed that the Pfizer vaccine is certifiably safe and effective in fighting the coronavirus, which is why the FDA has given the green light.

As of today, the FDA has awarded Pfizer with full vaccine approval. While the vaccine will still be widely available from pharmacies on an emergency basis who voluntarily choose to get vaccinated, governing bodies such as businesses, schools, and government departments can now mandate the use of Pfizer vaccination in employees.

“The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said Janet Woodcock, the FDA’s acting commissioner.

“While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the US.”

Breaking News: The Pentagon will mandate Covid vaccines for 1.4 million active duty U.S. service members, following the FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. Follow for updates: https://t.co/SjdvX8Iwhb

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 23, 2021

“Today, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine,” the FDA as a whole said in an official statement. “The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of Covid-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older.

“The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.”