Agnes Tsai draws up a dose of the Pfizer vaccine during a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Thursday, Jan. 28. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Pfizer’s vaccine against Covid, making it the first Covid vaccine to receive full federal approval.
The decision triggers vaccination mandates for many Oregon workers.
Gov. Kate Brown in recent weeks has mandated Covid vaccines for most state employees, all Oregon health care workers, and K-12 educators and school employees. She set an Oct. 18 target for those employees to finish their vaccination series, but said the final deadline could be later if federal approval lagged.
Now, Brown’s office confirmed Monday, the FDA’s decision means the Oct. 18 deadline will stand. Workers covered by vaccine mandates must be fully vaccinated by that date. Both Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines require two doses spaced several weeks apart. “Fully vaccinated” means someone has received their second dose at least two weeks ago.
“Those required to be fully vaccinated by October 18 need to take urgent action in order to meet this deadline,” said Liz Merah, spokeswoman for the governor, in an email.
The Pfizer vaccine was approved for people 16 and older. It remains available to people ages 12 to 15 under an emergency use authorization.
“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 U.S.,” said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. in a statement.
The Marion County Health and Human Services Department will be sharing information about the approval with community partners and the public this week in hopes of encouraging vaccination, spokeswoman Jenna Wyatt said.
“We were thrilled to hear the news of the FDA’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine for those 16 and older. While it’s a little early to know what impact it will have on those who have been unsure, we are hopeful that it will help community members feel more confident in the decision to get vaccinated,” Wyatt said in an email.
-Rachel Alexander
