Will FDA approval increase vaccination rates? Local officials weigh in
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) On Monday, the FDA announced that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has received full FDA authorization, making it the first COVID vaccine to be approved by the agency.
One local health official hopes this may persuade those who have been hesitant to get the vaccine to finally get vaccinated.
“I think more people will take the vaccine now that it is fully approved by the FDA. And more importantly, I think more employers and event coordinators will be willing to require vaccination for employment or attendance at events," said Dr. Gail Newel, a Santa Cruz health official.
Currently, 65.3% of Californians are fully vaccinated. In Santa Cruz, 67% of their total population, including teens have received at least one dose. Health officials say hospitals are seeing a big distinction between patients who are and aren't vaccinated.
"During the Delta surge, every patient who has died of it is unvaccinated. Hospitalizations, we do have some vaccinated people, but vaccinated people tend to be much less sick than those who are unvaccinated, 11x less likely to die if you're vaccinated," said Newel.
After multiple Hollister firefighters tested positive for COVID-19 last week, the San Benito Count Health Officer issued a vaccine mandate for fire and medical services in the county by the end of September. Their union lists lack of FDA authorization as one of the reasons for their hesitancy but now that Pfizer is FDA approved, will it change people's minds?
"If they want to get the vaccine or if they're waiting for more research to come out, data, facts and all that it should be their choice," said James Medel.
"I was so opposed to taking the vaccine. But then I realized that I had to protect older people and younger people as well. And that's the main initiative of why I took it, " said Dannae Gutierrez.
With full authorization, health officials are hoping more people are convinced about getting vaccinated before further mutations of the virus.
