Sen. Marshall Statement on Full FDA Approval of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

(Washington, D.C., August 23, 2021) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. issued the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to today’s announcement by the FDA, reports showed 30% of unvaccinated adults said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines currently authorized for emergency use were to receive full approval from the FDA.

“The FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will help combat vaccine hesitancy and result in more shots in arms and our country defeating this virus sooner rather than later,” said Senator Marshall. “With the delta variant ripping through our country, it is more important than ever for you to consider getting the vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones. I encourage you to talk to your doctor about the benefits associated with getting the shot and to determine if getting this fully approved vaccine is right for you.”

This announcement by the FDA follows a letter sent by Senator Marshall to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra and FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock, urging them to expedite the full FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccines and to prioritize research on the effectiveness of booster shots.

Background:

In April, Senator Marshall led a group of doctors and other health care providers in Congress in launching a public service campaign to boost COVID-19 vaccine participation. You may click HERE or on the image below to watch the PSA.

In January 2020, then Congressman Marshall was the first member of Congress to sound the alarm on the House floor about the spread of COVID-19. As a physician, he would later go on to serve on the frontlines as a volunteer treating patients in Wyandotte County and Seward County.

Senator Marshall also penned an op-ed urging the National Institutes of Health and the FDA to prioritize testing that would identify a patient’s level of immunity to COVID-19 by measuring t-cells.

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