Advice now, consent later, on COVID-19 vaccines

FDA’s Oct. 22 vaccines advisory committee meeting was principally intended to reassure the public that career staff will make decisions about COVID-19 vaccines and will not be influenced by political preferences or timetables.

A second priority was bringing the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) up to speed on FDA’s thinking about criteria for authorizing or approving COVID-19 vaccines, as the committee will be called on to discuss EUA applications for individual vaccine candidates. ...