A recent Washington Post article discussed the FDA’s effort to push the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to be approved as quickly as possible. With cases on the rise again, Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine official, announced “we have rolled out an all hands on deck” effort to identify ways to accelerate the vaccine’s approval, which currently has emergency use authorization. Though Marks didn’t give an estimated date for approval, some agency officials have predicted it’s a just matter of weeks.
Advocates of the vaccine’s approval believe it will give those with qualms about getting vaccinated peace of mind, and encourage them to get the shots. Full approval could also make governments, employers, and other institutions more comfortable mandating vaccinations.
