On Dec. 11, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine. This EUA allowed distribution of the vaccine to begin immediately in the United States.
The day after the FDA approved the vaccine, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended use of the vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older.
The ACIP recommendation triggers the requirement for non-grandfathered group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover the vaccine without cost sharing under the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care requirements. Learn more here.