Endorsement paves the way for a final decision by the FDA.

WASHINGTON— A committee of top U.S. vaccine scientists recommended Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration authorize the first COVID-19 vaccine for Americans.

This endorsement paves the way for a final decision by the FDA and mass vaccinations to begin within days in thousands of front-line heath care workers and nursing homes residents.

After an eight-hour public hearing, the independent Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 17 to 4 with 1 abstention to recommend the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech called BNT162b2.

The members found the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks for most people 16 years old and older.

The companies are requesting an “emergency use authorization,” a more rapid review just shy of a full vaccine approval. While they have compiled as much short-term safety and effectiveness data as is typical with any vaccine, the process has been compressed, and it’s not clear how long the vaccine will continue to be effective.

Committee members also brought up other knowledge gaps they hope are filled in coming months, including how safe and effective the vaccine will be in pregnant and nursing women, in people with severe allergies, and in those who are immunocompromised from conditions such as HIV.

With the vote made, the committee’s recommendation now goes to the FDA, which could authorize the vaccine for emergency use as early as Friday. Once it’s authorized, vials of the vaccine will begin shipping to all 50 states.