Commissioner Stephen Hahn says today’s meeting of the US Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel to approve a shot developed by Pfizer is “an important day for all of America.”
The FDA head hopes it will lead to the beginning of the end of the pandemic and a return “to a more normal and healthy life.”
A nurse prepares the a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, Yorkshire on December 8, 2020. (Andy Stenning / POOL / AFP)
Hahn says the FDA is working to understand the allergic reactions that turned up when the United Kingdom began vaccinations this week and that FDA would include recommendations in any emergency use authorization as to who should and should not get the vaccine.
Hahn, addressing public skepticism of the vaccine, says if one authorized, it’s important for people to get vaccinated to arrive at herd immunity.
He says: “I have 100% confidence, and I think the American public should as well, with respect to our review of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.”
He spoke this morning to ABC, CBS and NBC.
Israel is expected to follow suit should the FDA approve the Pfizer vaccine.
— with AP
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 10, 2020
