FDA Approves Emergency Use of COVID-19 Vaccines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the first emergency use authorization (EUA) for a vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 16 years of age and older. The EUA allowed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. Another vaccine developed by Moderna received emergency use authorization by the FDA on December 18, for use in individuals 18 and over.
Vaccines are being allocated based on each state's adult population. Health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities will be offered vaccination in the COVID-19 vaccination program's initial phase, followed by workers in essential and critical industries.
Additionally, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued an Interim Recommendation for Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for all persons over 16 years old on December 12. It issued an Interim Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for all persons over 18 on December 19.
FDA fact sheets and information for health care providers and patients regarding the two vaccines can be found at the links below.
Additionally, you can find more information as it relates to the general dentist on AGD's COVID-19 Vaccine Webpage.
Impact on General Dentistry: The widespread distribution and administration of vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19 are essential to ending the pandemic and allowing the delivery of dental care to normalize. AGD recently joined members of the Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) and other health stakeholders in sending a letter to the CDC to clarify that dental personnel are included in the recommendation to give health care workers priority access to COVID-19 vaccines. Ultimately, vaccine distribution will be determined at the individual state level. AGD is also advocating for dentists to be able to administer the vaccine as distribution broadens out to the general population. In nearly all states, this may require action by the state dental board.