FDA gives full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

The FDA gave the final approval for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for people 16 and up.

The two-dose shot was authorized for emergency use in December, and was authorized for children 12 and older in May for emergency use.  More than 188 million doses of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have been administered so far in the U.S. 

Full FDA approval carries the FDA's strongest endorsement of a product, and among other steps it usually requires six months of safety follow-up. The agency also performed detailed inspections of vaccine manufacturing plants as the Delta variant continues to spread through the country.