Dec 11, 2020 More on Pharmacy

FDA to 'rapidly work' towards emergency use authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Approval means vaccine distribution would be on Operation Warp Speed's schedule for distribution by mid-month.

Susan Morse, Executive Editor

The Food and Drug Administration said today that following yesterday's positive advisory committee meeting outcome regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, it would rapidly work toward finalization and issuance of an emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA gave no specific timeline.

The agency has also notified the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed so that they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution.

Approval means vaccine distribution would be on Operation Warp Speed's schedule for distribution to frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable populations in long-term care facilities by mid-month.

The FDA advisory committee has scheduled another meeting to review the Moderna vaccine on Thursday, December 17.

See our continuing vaccine coverage here:

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine gets FDA advisory committee approval

CMS offers guidance in billing Medicare for COVID-19 antibody treatment

Thousands in the United Kingdom are the first to receive Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Eli Lilly and UnitedHealth Group partner on COVID-19 antibody treatment for high-risk individuals

Operation Warp Speed is looking to start distributing COVID-19 vaccine by mid-month

Moderna seeks regulatory authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine

HHS will begin allocating Regeneron's COVID-19 therapeutic this week

HHS partners with chain and independent pharmacies to increase access to future COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccine distribution will begin within 24 hours of an emergency use authorization

Moderna vaccine candidate shows 94.5% efficacy against COVID-19