AAM Will Monitor The Patient Response To Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Vaccines

The COVID-19 public health emergency has driven extraordinary global efforts to develop an effective and safe vaccine. Some of the vaccines in clinical testing are using novel technology, such as messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA).

The vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have been made available to the American public under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

After careful review of available data regarding safety profiles, the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM) adopts the following policy as both safe and operationally responsive to this unique situation:

Holders of FAA-issued Airman Medical Certificates or Medical Clearances may receive the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines; however, a 48-hour no fly/no safety related duty interval must be observed after each dose.

Individuals holding an FAA-issued Airman Medical Certificate or Medical Clearance should be reminded that they are prohibited from performing flight crewmember duties or air traffic control duties if they do not meet medical certification requirements, including those related to adverse events from medications that render them unable to perform such duties.

AAM will monitor the patient response to Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and may adjust this policy as necessary to ensure aviation safety. Additional vaccines will each be evaluated as EUAs are issued.

FMI: www.faa.gov/coronavirus/guidance_resources/vaccine_faq/, www.faa.gov/coronavirus/guidance_resources/#useOfVaccines