The government on Friday officially authorized Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine Comirnaty with 95 percent preventive efficacy and allowed its use for all people aged 16 or older.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety made the decision after having three separate evaluations on the vaccine’s efficacy and safety. People have to get two shots with the interval of three weeks.

Previously, adolescents under 18 were not included in the government's vaccination plan because there is no domestically licensed vaccine or clinical trial results confirming safety and efficacy.

Despite the regulatory approval, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), responsible for inoculation, has to hold a meeting to decide whether to include youths in the Pfizer vaccine target group.

The Pfizer vaccine's approval is separate from those secured from the COVAX Facility and being given to 56,000 medical workers fighting Covid-19 at the front-line.

"Our vaccine experts held a meeting this morning and approved Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine on the condition that the company submits final results of the clinical trial after getting approval," Minister of Food and Drug Safety Kim Gang-lip said. "We believed it would be fine to use the vaccine for those above 16 after reviewing clinical data and made decision same to the previous two advisory recommendations."

The vaccine must be stored at minus 60 to 90 Celsius, and it is effective for about six months.