New vaccines in the U.S. must undergo a thorough FDA approval process. The CDC makes recommendations for use. These processes are deeply rooted in science and data and are independently assessed for safety and efficacy to protect the public.
An independent advisory panel of experts called the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee met Dec. 10 to assess data from clinical trials about the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC adopted recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices about access and allocation of COVID-19 vaccines. The committee voted Dec. 12 for to approve the EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
The FDC, CDC and other federal agencies will monitor long-term effects of the vaccine on public health. Learn more about vaccine safety monitoring.
FDA approved an EUA for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 18, 2020, for adults 18 years and older. For more information, see the FDA fact sheet.