University of Maryland Medical System Statement on FDA Approval of the Pfizer Vaccine

As an academic health system that has been on the frontlines of fighting the global COVID pandemic, from treating over 13,000 patients with COVID, to working with our research and scientist colleagues on vaccine development and vaccinating hundreds of thousands of Marylanders across the state, we welcome the FDA's official approval today of the Pfizer vaccine. We know this decision was based on rigorous study of the data, which shows an exceedingly high rate of protection against the respiratory virus. Indeed, in our own hospitals, we are seeing that the vast majority of cases are among the unvaccinated.

We strongly encourage those who are still hesitant to get vaccinated. The science is clear and bears out what we see every day as Maryland's largest health system: the vaccine works and protects us from a dangerous virus.