FDA Moves to Expedite COVID Vaccine Approval in Bid to Lessen Reluctancy
As it stands today, the number of Americans who don’t want a COVID-19 vaccine is roughly equal to the number of Americans who don’t have a COVID-19 vaccine, and that is troublesome for the Biden administration.
The President had publicly set a number of lofty goals as it pertains to the coronavirus vaccine, namely hoping to have around 70% of the population at least partially-vaccinated by July 4th. As we enter August, that number is much closer to 50%, and this isn’t nearly enough to ensure herd immunity.
Now, in an effort to convince more Americans to get on board with the inoculation, the FDA is going to expedite the transition from “emergency use authorization” to “approved” for the vaccines themselves.
FDA spokesperson Abby Capobianco said the agency is working on “identifying additional resources such as personnel and technological resources from across the agency and opportunities to reprioritize other activities, in order to complete our review to help combat this pandemic surge.”
The agency has deployed an “all hands on deck” strategy for this endeavor, Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in an interview. The Pfizer vaccine has so far been distributed under FDA emergency-use authorization it received in December. The company applied for full approval on May 7.
“We recognize that for some, the FDA approval of Covid-19 vaccines may bring additional confidence and encourage them to get vaccinated,” Capobianco said in a statement. “FDA staff will conduct a thorough review process, while balancing the incredible sense of urgency necessary, both of which are needed to ensure that any vaccine that is authorized or approved meets our rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality.”
Of course, many Americans are already of the impression that the speed at which the vaccines were developed could lend itself to safety issues, so there’s no telling if an expedited secondary approval process would win them over.