The Food and Drug Administration just made the announcement that they have approved Pfizer‘s COVID-19 vaccine.
Variety reports that the FDA approved the drug after a government panel recommended Thursday that it receive approval from them.
The advisory panel found that Pfizer’s shot appears to be safe and effective against COVID-19 in people 16 and older. The approval on Friday (December 11) will make way for Americans to begin getting the vaccine, which was kick started in other countries, like England, earlier this month.
The vaccine has a 95% effectiveness rate. About 2.9 million doses are due to be shipped around the United States in the next week, with nursing home residents and health care workers among the first to get the shot.