EUA

abbreviation or noun

ˌē-ˌyü-ˈā 

plural EUAs

: emergency use authorization

Though not fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration, all three vaccines have been given emergency use authorization (EUA) by the agency for distribution because of their ability to save lives during the pandemic.

—Isabella Murray

The FDA requires at least two months of data from at least half of the clinical trial participants before granting an EUA. The shots proved to be safe and effective at preventing severe illness and death from the coronavirus.

—Katie Camero

But now that N95 masks are more widely available, the FDA has revoked those EUAs [for KN95 masks] …

—Devon Kelley

Examples of EUA in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But by giving the drug an EUA, the FDA has cleared it for use in people who may benefit the most from it while researchers are still learning about the treatment. —Syeda Khaula Saad, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2024

This method was also used for the three COVID-19 vaccines that received approval or emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA. —Michael Menna, Verywell Health, 19 Oct. 2023

Under the Public Health Service Act, any emergency use authorization (EUA) granted by the FDA was regarded as licensure for the duration of the public health emergency.4 Now that the public health emergency has ended, vaccines must have full use authorization in order to be covered. —Louise Norris, Verywell Health, 17 June 2023

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for an over-the-counter combo Covid-flu test. —Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 13 May 2023

To be clear, a EUA doesn’t mean that the product hasn’t properly been tested. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 4 May 2023

Ideally, a product with an EUA will go on to win full FDA approval by meeting the more time-consuming requirements. —Melissa Healystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2023

The test was granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 28, 2021, Detect said. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2022

Navarro suggested that Hatfill should write the request for a new EUA for hydroxychloroquine and have O'Neill submit it on behalf of Henry Ford Health. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 24 Aug. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

2004, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

EUA

abbreviation or noun

ˌē-ˌyü-ˈā 

: emergency use authorization

An EUA allows use of unapproved medical products (or unapproved uses of approved medical products) to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions caused by threat agents, such as Covid-19, in response to a declared public health emergency for which there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.

—Philip R. Krause and Marion F. Gruber, The New England Journal of Medicine

The FDA's first EUAs for civilians were in 2009, during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, authorizing two previously approved medications—Tamiflu and Relenza—and a new drug …

—Diana M. Zuckerman, American Journal of Public Health