Health officials in Sedgwick County and across Kansas are hopeful that full approval of the Pfizer vaccine will encourage more people to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval on Monday to use of the Pfizer vaccine for people 16 and older.   Sedgwick County deputy health director Chris Steward said emergency use authorization remains in effect for youngsters 12 to 15 years of age.

Steward said the Pfizer vaccine is now being marketed under the commercial name of Comirnaty.   The FDA is considering full approval of the Moderna vaccine, and that decision is expected in several weeks.

The county is working on steps to reach people who still haven’t been vaccinated.   Steward said there were people in a survey taken earlier this year who said they were waiting for full authorization of the vaccine before getting it.  She said the county is looking at staffing and messaging, along with partner and mobile clinics to get the vaccine to more people.

Governor Kelly issued a statement saying that the vaccine is safe, effective against severe illness and death and the best tool to beat the virus.   She is urging all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

The state of Kansas reported an additional 2,778 cases of COVID-19 on Monday, along with 4 new deaths and 54 new hospitalizations.    Sedgwick County reported 49 new cases on Monday, with no new deaths.   The county’s positive testing rate has dropped to 7.7 percent after reaching a high of 9 percent in recent weeks.

Hospitals in Wichita are still in a critical status.  On Monday, there were 177 people hospitalized for COVID-19, with 53 in the intensive care unit.