Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Receives Full Approval from FDA; Healthcare Facility Vaccine Verification Compliance Begins

On Aug. 23., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA approved the license for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continues to be available under emergency use authorization or EUA for those 12 through 15 years old and for a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals. The licensing approval was announced after another thorough evaluation of safety and effectiveness data by a panel of scientific and medical experts. FDA-approved vaccines undergo the agency’s standard process for reviewing the quality, safety and effectiveness of medical products.

Also today, acute care and long-term care facilities, high-risk congregate facilities, and other healthcare facilities must be in full compliance with the State’s order that requires these facilities to verify the vaccine status of all workers. The State order also requires compliance with respirator and masking mandates and screening testing. And, by Sept. 30, healthcare workers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Many vaccination sites across the county, including all the County-run sites, are also offering third doses of vaccine to eligible immunocompromised people.

To find a vaccination site near you, make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.  ,

Details: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.