The IAA One Minute Blog

On December 11, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in people 16 years of age and older.

COVID-19 Vaccine

The initial delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine consists of nearly 3 million doses. The vaccine is being sent to more than 600 sites nationwide.

The approval comes after vaccines advisors to the FDA voted on December 10 to recommend the FDA grant emergency use authorization to Pfizer and BioNtech’s vaccine. Seventeen members of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted yes, four voted no and one abstained.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine offers more than 50 percent protection against the virus within 10 days of receiving the first dose, according to documents released on December 8 by the FDA.  The two vaccine doses are intended to be administered 21 days apart.

Data posted online by the FDA also suggests that the vaccine works well irrespective of recipients’ race, weight or age.  Trial participants are diverse, with representatives across ethnic and racial groups, co- morbidities and age.

Side Effects

The shots may come with side effects, which include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headaches
• Muscle and joint pain

Four cases of Bell’s palsy were identified in participants who received the vaccine and none in the group who received the placebo. At least one of the participants recovered within a few days of getting the shot.

There is no evidence that the vaccine caused the problem, but the FDA is expected to recommend long-term follow up.

What IAA has to Say

With vaccine distribution starting, there now seems to be a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Insurance Administrator of America continues to hope that everyone stays healthy and safe.  Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

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