US panel endorses Pfizer COVID-19 shot in a major step toward an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government advisory panel on Thursday decided to endorse large-scale use of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine to help conquer the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans.
The advisory group, in 17-4 vote with one abstention, concluded that the shot appears safe and effective against the coronavirus in people 16 and older.
The meeting of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration represented the next-to-last hurdle before the expected start of the biggest vaccination campaign in U.S. history. Depending on how fast the FDA signs off on the panel’s recommendation, shots could begin within days.
The FDA panel functions like a science court. During the daylong session, it debated and picked apart the data — in public — before deciding to recommend that the vaccine be cleared for emergency use.
“The American public demands and deserves a rigorous, comprehensive and independent review of the data,” said the FDA’s Dr. Doran Fink, who added that the agency’s scientists had worked nights, weekends and over Thanksgiving to get that done.
The FDA is not required to follow the committee’s advice but is widely expected to do so. A final FDA decision is expected within days. Once that happens, the U.S. will begin shipping millions of doses of the shot to begin vaccinating health care workers and nursing home residents. Widespread access to the general public is not expected until the spring.
