The FDA issued the first emergency use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine on December 11. By Nikki Johnson-Bolden The FDA issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 11. FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. called the authorization a significant milestone in battling the pandemic in the United States. The data presented by Pfizer proves that the vaccine may be effective in preventing coronavirus, according to the FDA. “While not an FDA approval, today’s emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine holds the promise to alter the course of this pandemic in the United States,” said Peter Marks, Director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.