WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (CNN) - The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine for emergency use in the United States.

A Pfizer spokesperson confirmed to CNN on Friday that an emergency use authorization had been granted, following the recommendation of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.

On Saturday the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet and vote on recommending the vaccine.