Pfizer

LACo Health Officials Urge COVID Boosters, Await Approval of Shots for Kids

Los Angeles County health officials again urged eligible residents to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, while they also prepared for anticipated federal approval of vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Tuesday recommended approval of an emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 5. FDA officials still need to approve the recommendation, along with a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee and the CDC director.

LA County Reports 5 New COVID-19 Deaths; Hospitalizations Hold Steady

Los Angeles County’s number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients held mostly steady according to the latest data, increasing by one, while the county reported just five new virus-related deaths. Numbers of new fatalities and COVID infections tend to be low on Mondays due to delays in reporting from the weekend. The five new COVID deaths reported Monday gave the county an overall death toll of 26,018. The county reported another 986 cases, for a pandemic total of 1,455,155.

FDA Approves Pfizer Vaccine, Public Health Stress Social Measures to Stay Safe

Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the license for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 disease for individuals 16 and older. The licensing approval was announced after another thorough evaluation of safety and effectiveness. Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, a Los Angeles County Health Officer, is grateful for the approval and hopes it will ease the minds of those concerned about taking the vaccine.

US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory. The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to force members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. The University of Minnesota likewise said it will require its students get the shot, as did Louisiana’s major public universities, including LSU, though state law there allows broad exemptions. More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in