The C.D.C. formally approves allowing people 16 and up to receive the vaccine.

The director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, gave a proper sign-off Saturday night for Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine to be administered to folks 16 and over, the company said on Sunday.

His official endorsement adopted the emergency authorization granted by the Meals and Drug Administration on Friday. Frontline well being care staff might start getting the primary dose of the two-shot vaccine in cities throughout the nation as quickly as Monday morning.

An earlier model of this merchandise incorrectly said that the C.D.C.’s motion on Saturday expanded the age vary of approved recipients past what the FD.A. had approved, to incorporate 16- and 17-year-olds. In truth, the F.D.A.’s authorization included them as effectively.

Dr. Redfield’s signoff marks one of many ultimate nods from the U.S. authorities for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the primary to grow to be obtainable in Britain, Canada and now the USA.