Medical Certification

Important Policy Memorandums

• Policy Memorandum Regarding Color Vision Testing (PDF)
• Policy Memorandum Regarding Yellow Fever Vaccine (PDF)
• Policy Memorandum Regarding Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) Evaluations of Airmen and Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCS) with a History of COVID-19 (PDF)

Use of COVID-19 Vaccines by Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers

The COVID-19 public health emergency has driven extraordinary global efforts to develop an effective and safe vaccine. The vaccines produced by Novavax and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen are available to the American public under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pfizer's Comirnaty and Moderna's Spikevax vaccines are now fully FDA approved.

After careful review of available data regarding safety profiles, the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM) continues 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, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, and/or Novavax COVID-19 vaccines; however, a 48-hour no fly/no safety-related duty interval must be observed after each dose. This policy is applicable to both the initial vaccine doses and booster shots.

Individuals holding an FAA-issued Airman Medical Certificate or Medical Clearance are 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. 14CFR61.53 applies to all certificated pilots whether they hold a medical certificate or not.

AAM continues to monitor the situation and will adjust this policy as necessary to ensure aviation safety.

Read FAQ on Use of COVID-19 Vaccines by Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers.