Local and state officials expressed hope this week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 and over will encourage people who have been hesitant about vaccination to finally get the shot.
“Although millions of people across the country and the county have already received this vaccine and the data has overwhelmingly shown that it is safe and effective, I know that for some who remain hesitant full approval was a key factor,’’ Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis said in a statement. “With this step, it is my hope that those who are still unvaccinated see that the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines have been proven yet again.
“I also encourage businesses, healthcare facilities, schools, and other sectors who had been waiting for full FDA approval to follow the county’s lead and begin implementing vaccine requirements,’’ she said. “Only by further increasing vaccinations can we slow the spread of the Delta variant, prevent severe hospitalization and death from this virus, and finally put an end to this pandemic.”
